AN 11-year-old boy has tragically died following a heart attack he suffered at a waterpark.
Richard Weinert-Soto collapsed on Saturday while waiting in line for a slide at Adventure Park in Visalia, California, around 40 miles south of Fresno.
gofundme/ Graciela Munoz-SotoRichard Weinert-Soto, 11, died after he suffered a heart attack at a waterpark[/caption]
Instagram/visalia_adventure_parkWeinert-Soto collapsed at the Adventure Park in Visalia, California[/caption]
Weinert-Soto had been at the top of a waterslide when the medical emergency happened.
Visalia Adventure Park officials shared that their CPR-certified staff member tried to save the boy before medical professionals arrived on the scene around 5 pm, according to a statement.
The park revealed that Weinert-Soto had suffered from a cardiac emergency.
He was then taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:26 pm.
His mother Maria Velasco shared the heartbreaking way she had found her young son, according to NBC affiliate KSEE.
“This little girl comes and she tells me, ‘I think your little boy is laying up there,’” she said.
“And so I ran up there and he was blue and purple,” she added.
Weinert-Soto had been born with a heart and lung condition.
The boy’s father, Christopher Weinert, shared a heartbreaking tribute to his son, according to KSEE.
“He was amazing. He was special. Everyone who knew him knew that,” he said.
His family shared messaged about the young boy on a GoFundMe page that was set up to help cover his funeral expenses.
“He was the happiest, most loving, and kind boy,” the family wrote.
“He enjoyed singing at his church, talking about God’s love and making his friends and family laugh.”
His family shared that Weinert-Soto’s heart had stopped at the waterpark.
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,
Maria Velasco
“He fought until the end and left many beautiful memories behind,” the tribute said.
“He was a friend to all and we would appreciate any help or assistance to lay our Angel Richard to rest.”
His family thanked the local community as well as the park staff and emergency serveries for their work.
The fundraiser has amassed over $24,000 so far.
Visalia Adventure Park said in it’s statement that his death was not the result of a failure by the site.
“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,” Adventure Park said.
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