A BOY died after falling nearly 50 feet from a broken waterslide that had sections removed for renovation.
Davi Lucas de Miranda, 8, died after falling from an under-repair pipe on the ride in Brazil, and the waterpark manager and an engineer have both been charged with manslaughter.
The horrifying incident occurred in February 2022 at diRoma Acqua Park in Caldas Novas, Brazil, when Davi entered the Volcano ride.
The attraction consists of four waterslides that emerge from the top of a replica volcano; however, three of the slides were reportedly partially dismantled, with sections of the long pipes removed.
Davi went down the shoot and plunged 50ft before hitting the ride’s wood and metal structure and rolling into a shallow pool, not realising the slide had sections missing for maintenance.
The young boy was rescued but died in hospital as a result of his injuries.
The ride was initially surrounded by fencing to prevent waterpark visitors from entering the slide’s steps while it was in operation.
However, investigations have revealed that the fencing was allegedly removed on the manager’s instructions after further barriers were installed around the area of the slide.
The Civil Police investigation case concluded that had the original fencing not been removed, young Davi would have not accessed the ride.
Only one of the four of the ride’s tubes was closed off, investigators say, and the victim went down one of the open tubes, which was missing part of its siding.
The civil engineer in charge of the repairs, Flavio Tomaz de Aquino Musse, has been identified by the Civil Police, as has the waterpark manager, Cristiano Vilela Reis.
The investigation report stated: “It is possible to see the reckless behaviour on the part of the manager, since the investigation pointed out that he ordered the fence to be installed at the Volcano ride, more precisely at the base of the stairs that led to the platform where the water slides began, which was built as ordered.
“However, later, with the fencing being installed in an external area, the manager determined that the barrier on the stairs should be removed.
“If he had not acted in this way, David Lucas de Miranda would certainly not have been able to climb up to the water slide from where he fell.”
According to police chief Rodrigo Pereira, the two accused violated their duty of care by failing to assign employees to guard the site during operating hours.
Reis, the waterpark manager, and the maintenance company have both been contacted for comment.
Luciano told Brazil’s UOL website that his son had been pestering him to take him to the waterpark soon after his son’s tragic death last year.
“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’.
Luciano continued: “He was used to going down the Volcano. It all happened very fast.
“How did they let a child on a closed water slide?”
