10-Year-Old Dies Halfway Down A Waterslide

Jul 30, 2019

Although amusement parks are created for children, there are still many sensible age and height restrictions that are set in place by the business in order to ensure the safety of everyone visiting the park.

When 10-year-old London Eisenbeis finally was tall enough to ride a large water slide, something tragic occurred.

The 273-foot slide is located at Zehnder’s Splash Village in the town of Frankenmuth, Michigan. The slide is famous in the area for being fun and breathtaking, and the little girl had been waiting years in order to have her turn at the ride.

Her mother recalls her fondness and excitement for the slide. Before boarding, she gave her dad two thumbs-up and a big smile.

However, it was at that moment that a horrific accident occurred. During her ride down the slide, London suffered from an unexpected cardiac arrest. The excitement from the ride presumably messed with her inner rhythm, which was very dangerous for the little girl.

But no one in her family was aware that the girl was suffering from a syndrome called Long QT. This extremely rare illness can be fatal in some circumstances. When triggered, people with this condition can often develop fast and chaotic types of heartbeats. The symptoms can include heart palpitations, fainting, risk of drowning, and in rare cases, death.

Although many signals of the disease can be present during childhood, parents need to be aware of the signs in order to know what to look out for, including sudden spells of fainting. There is no known cure for Long QT syndrome, but medications can help manage it. Because of her disorder, London's heart had completely stopped when she reached the bottom of the four-story slide.

Her parents immediately rushed her to the hospital. For nine days, London was on life support but eventually suffered cardiac arrest again. The little girl was laid to rest on March 3rd, in an outfit that she had previously picked out to wear to a daddy-daughter dance at school.

Now, the family is trying to make the best out of a terrible situation and start a nonprofit organization called the London Strong Foundation. They seek to provide their community with defibrillators, a machine that can deliver an electric shock and help regain a heart rhythm.

What do you think about this story? Have you ever heard of Long QT syndrome? Tell us your experience in the comments and pass this story on so more parents are aware of this condition.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!