Boy dies in accident on ‘world’s tallest water slide’ in Kansas

A 12-year-old boy has died on a Kansas water slide known as the world’s tallest, authorities have confirmed.

The accident happened on the Verruckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday local time.

The water slide is advertised as the ‘world’s tallest’ and is 17 storeys tall. It has reportedly been shut down for police investigation.

Police said the death was an “apparent accident”, in a statement released on Twitter.

They said it was not clear why the 12-year-old was on the water slide, as riders are supposed to be aged at least 14.

A park spokesperson could not confirm the exact cause or time of death, the Kansas City Star reported.

The slide opened in July 2014, and its opening was reportedly delayed by additional safety testing, KCTV5 reports.