Verrückt water slide to close permanently after fatal accident

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By BNO NEWS

Verrückt, the world’s tallest and fastest water slide which opened at the Schlitterbahn resort in Kansas City just two years ago, will close permanently after a young boy was killed in a gruesome accident earlier this year.

The accident happened on August 7 when Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of Kansas Representative Scott Schwab, went down the water slide in a raft. Schwab was beheaded and two women who were also in the raft suffered minor facial injuries.

“Once the investigation is concluded and we are given permission by the court, Verrückt will be decommissioned – closed permanently and the slide removed from the tower,” the company said in a brief statement on Tuesday. “In our opinion, it is the only proper course of action following this tragedy.”

Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts said it will announce at a future date what will be built to replace Verrückt.

“All of us at Schlitterbahn have been heartbroken over the tragedy that occurred on Verrückt. In our 50 years of providing an environment for families and friends to gather, we’ve never experienced this kind of devastating event,” the company said, adding that the safety of staff and guests is their top priority.

Verrückt – which is German for insane – has a height of 168 feet and 7 inches (51.38 meters), making it the tallest water slide in the world and higher than Niagara Falls. The popular attraction opened at Schlitterbahn Kansas City in Kansas in July 2014.

Those who go on the ride will experience a nearly vertical drop at the start, after which riders zoom up a five-story hill before coming to a stop. Top speeds typically hit about 65 miles per hour (104.6 kilometers per hour), which also makes it the fastest water slide in the world.

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