A young boy has reportedly entered a waterslide that was closed for repairs and was missing one of its tubes.
Davi Lucas de Miranda, 8, died after entering the attraction which was reportedly undergoing maintenance and had not been properly sealed off from the public in Brazil.
The tragedy took place at the “Volcano” ride at the diRoma Acqua Park in the municipality of Caldas Novas, Goias. The young boy fell 50ft. while using a dismantled waterslide.
The Volcano is made up of four waterslides that come out of the top of a replica volcano. Insufficient signage and blockades meant the attraction appeared open to the public.
Three of the slides had reportedly been at least partially dismantled, meaning that sections of the long pipes had been removed, although this was not easily visible at the beginning of the ride.
According to the police, Davi reportedly managed to access the ride which was fenced off but only by a strip of tape on its entrance. The young boy climbed up to the beginning of the slides and entered one of them which has an immediate right angle that obstructs the view of the rest of the slide.
After he launched himself down the slide, he fell nearly 50ft before hitting a wooden and metal structure that supports the ride. He then rolled into a pool that was 28 inches deep and was then taken to hospital but sadly died later.
The firefighters also reported that the child was attended by the water park’s lifeguards and the Samu (Mobile Emergency Care Service) was called at around 3:45 pm. He was attended by the Advanced Support Unit with the support of firefighters, who sent him to the Municipal Hospital.
Jaqueline Rosa, Davi’s mother, told local media: “My son was a marvelous child, full of plans, a super studious boy. He just wanted to play. But he’s never coming back. It’s hurting a lot.”
Luciano Márcio Miranda, 43, Davi’s Dad, said that his son had been pestering him to take him to the waterpark. He said: “I told Davi we would go the next day, but he really wanted to go.”
“I warned him that we would have to stay for a short time and he told me “I’m dying to go to the park”. So we went with the stroller with my one-year-old son and him. He was used to going down the Volcano. It all happened very fast. How did they let a child on a closed water slide?” he added.
He reportedly knew the waterpark well, having already visited it several times. His distraught family members have claimed the park operator was negligent and they are calling for justice.
According to the establishment, “the area in which the accident occurred was completely closed off with siding and properly signposted for renovation and improvements”.
The park also stated: “The space, as well as our entire complex, is rigorously inspected by the Fire Department and has all the permits and licenses issued by the competent authorities. In fifty years of history and tradition, the DiRoma Group has never suffered a tragedy of this magnitude.”
They also said they are dismayed for what happened and collaborating with the authorities, offering their full support to the family in this time of mourning.
Davi Lucas was buried in his family’s hometown of Conselheiro Lafaiete in the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais. Police say that the investigation is still ongoing.
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