An 11-year-old boy, Richard Weinert-Soto, tragically died after collapsing at a water park in California on Saturday, as reported by his family and park officials. The incident occurred at Visalia Adventure Park, where Richard was waiting in line at the top of a waterslide when he suddenly collapsed, told KSEE/KPEG.
According to a statement from the park, Richard experienced a “cardiac emergency while waiting in line for the waterslides.” The park’s CPR-certified staff immediately responded and provided assistance until medical professionals arrived. Despite their efforts, Richard was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by the family to help cover Richard’s funeral expenses. The page reveals that Richard was born with both a heart and lung condition and had undergone multiple heart surgeries in his short life. “When Richard was born, his heart was on the wrong side of his body and it was also flipped backward… this led to his 6 successful open heart surgeries. As for his lungs, he had chronic lung failure,” the GoFundMe page details.
Visalia Adventure Park emphasized that Richard’s death was not due to any fault of the park, reiterating their commitment to safety. “Please know that the park was and continues to be a safe environment for the whole family and that this emergency was not related to the facilities at the park,” park officials stated.
Richard’s family expressed that he was enjoying himself and “being a normal kid” in his final moments. “Richard’s heart stopped while enjoying time at Adventure Park… he was having fun, running around… and being a normal kid,” the GoFundMe page reads. The family described Richard as “the happiest, most loving, and kind boy,” noting his love for singing at church, talking about God’s love, and making his friends and family laugh. However, they also highlighted the daily struggles Richard faced due to his health conditions, which were not always visible to those around him.
Visalia Adventure Park extended their gratitude to their staff members and first responders for their quick actions during the emergency. The park officials also requested that the community keep Richard’s family in their prayers during this difficult time.