Boy Killed on Kansas Water Slide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

It was a raft in the water so there was probably limited control over it once it began shooting down the slide. If the thing tipped over or got jammed somewhere on the ride, the riders needed to be able to get off. If they had been locked in with roller coaster type restraints there would be no way for the park attendants to release the restraints....with velcro the riders could release themselves if needed. Or at least that is my guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

If that were what happened, his dead body would have arrived in the raft, not after it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

If that were what happened, his dead body would have arrived in the raft, not after it.

I would imagine that the force of the impact made the velcro fail which may have even been factored into the design for all we know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

If that were what happened, his dead body would have arrived in the raft, not after it.

I would imagine that the force of the impact made the velcro fail which may have even been factored into the design for all we know.

You think they intentionally designed the system, expecting people to ram their heads into metal bars at 65 miles an hour?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

If that were what happened, his dead body would have arrived in the raft, not after it.

I would imagine that the force of the impact made the velcro fail which may have even been factored into the design for all we know.

You think they intentionally designed the system, expecting people to ram their heads into metal bars at 65 miles an hour?

I don't know what thought went into the design process or how the testing of this ride may have led them to use velcro restraints. I have personally never seen heavy duty velcro restraints used on any other ride. Clearly this was a different sort of ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all has me thinking a little differently about amusement park rides. I just assume they're safe! Understand there's a risk to everything, but this is so not worth it. WTF

I am rethinking Disney, which is probably absurd but I am so horrified by this and have a 10 year old son.

My gut reaction is yes, that's absurd, but then if you think about it - how often are these rides getting inspected? Do all amusement parks follow strict guidelines? Yes, there's a risk to driving a car, but my justification there is that I need to get to work to pay the bills. Putting my 10 year old on a ride just for fun that might need repairs, or might be old, or whatever - what's the point? Too many of these stories and this one was really just horrifying.

Most rides have the inspection dates and who inspected them posted in plain sight for riders to see. Some may self-inspect but they are inspected.

As far as accidents on rides, really, how many people ride park rides every day compared to how many accidents there are. Very few accidents in relation to the number of people in and out of various attraction parks. Think about it.

Would you ban something that 2 out of millions of people are injured on - and most injuries are people not reading the warnings and following them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

If that were what happened, his dead body would have arrived in the raft, not after it.

Wouldn't the force of impact have ripped the straps off or removed him from the raft. Why would he have remained in the raft?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

If that were what happened, his dead body would have arrived in the raft, not after it.

Not necessarily. I think the actual impact with the bar was what pulled him out of the seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

If that were what happened, his dead body would have arrived in the raft, not after it.

Not necessarily. I think the actual impact with the bar was what pulled him out of the seat.

Having rode on water slides with the netting, and had the feeling that myself and my kid were airborne for a few seconds,I always falsely assumed that it was great because it would prevent an accident but now I realize it's actually a pretty deadly element on these rides. I wonder if this is the first time that ride creator and water park operators are finding this out as well. They may have gone on assumption and not actual testing?

I am definitely going to be more cautious in the future on these rides. Just last year my friend gave me a hard time because I refused to let my petite 11 yr old ride an open drop water slide on a inner tube because I feared she would fly off. Now I am glad I listened to my instincts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am definitely going to be more cautious in the future on these rides. Just last year my friend gave me a hard time because I refused to let my petite 11 yr old ride an open drop water slide on a inner tube because I feared she would fly off. Now I am glad I listened to my instincts.

Me too. For sure! Sometimes I'll look at the rides and think twice about letting my kids on them, but then reassure myself that they have designed the rides to be safe. After this story and all the other links posted, it makes me reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riders were held in by VELCRO! Complete fail.

I saw that, but maybe there was a reason behind that? Maybe if it were metal bars, the force/speed would cause more injuries than a velcro strap.

Was it a strap issue? As in, did a strap come loose?

Have you read any of the thread? Or any of the news articles? He wasn't in his seat in the raft at the end of the ride. I think we can safely assume his straps failed.

I'm not sure that a secure strap would have made any difference. I think the raft itself was launched upward at an angle and his neck hit the metal support bar while he was still seated in the raft.

If that were what happened, his dead body would have arrived in the raft, not after it.

Not necessarily. I think the actual impact with the bar was what pulled him out of the seat.

Having rode on water slides with the netting, and had the feeling that myself and my kid were airborne for a few seconds,I always falsely assumed that it was great because it would prevent an accident but now I realize it's actually a pretty deadly element on these rides. I wonder if this is the first time that ride creator and water park operators are finding this out as well. They may have gone on assumption and not actual testing?

I am definitely going to be more cautious in the future on these rides. Just last year my friend gave me a hard time because I refused to let my petite 11 yr old ride an open drop water slide on a inner tube because I feared she would fly off. Now I am glad I listened to my instincts.

I'm wondering if the support poles were modified in some way specifically for this ride. Perhaps made more rigid due to the very high speed of the rafts?