Boy, 11, collapses and dies in line for amusement park water slide

Thursday, August 29, 2024 - An 11-year-old boy collapsed and died while waiting in line at the top of a water slide at an amusement park.

Richard Weinert-Soto was at Adventure Park in Visalia, California, when he slumped at the Sequoia Springs attraction around 5pm on Saturday, August 24, his mother, Maria Velasco, told KSEE.

"This little girl comes and she tells me, 'I think your little boy is laying up there'… and so I ran up there and he was blue and purple," she said.

Amusement park staff administered CPR on the boy and he was rushed to Kaweah Health Medical Center.

Despite life-saving measures, Richard was pronounced dead at 9.26pm.

"Richard’s heart stopped while enjoying time at Adventure Park…he was having fun, running around…and being a normal kid," states a GoFundMe page for his funeral expenses.

"He fought until the end and left many beautiful memories behind."

Richard was born with both a heart and lung condition, according to a fundraiser. His heart was on the wrong side of his body and he underwent six successful open heart surgeries. He also suffered from chronic lung failure.

"He was the happiest, most loving, and kind boy. He enjoyed singing at his church, talking about God’s love and making his friends and family laugh," the GoFundMe reads.

"However, not many people saw the full picture and what Richard had to go through on a daily basis."

Adventure Park acknowledged that "a child suffered from a cardiac emergency while waiting in line for the waterslides".