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3 weeks ago
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An 11-year-old boy collapsed and died from a heart attack while waiting to get on a slide at a waterpark.
The devastated family of Richard Weinert-Soto confirmed his passing at Adventure Park in Visalia, central California, on Saturday evening.
'Richard's heart stopped while enjoying time at Adventure Park…he was having fun, running around…and being a normal kid,' his relatives wrote in a heart-breaking fundraiser for his parents.
The little boy was born with a heart and lung condition which left him vulnerable.
His mother, Maria Velasco, described the moment her son died at the waterpark, as police confirmed what happened in a statement.
Eleven-year-old Richard Weinert-Soto (pictured) has collapsed and died from a heart attack while waiting to get on a slide at a waterpark in California, police have said
'Richard's heart stopped while enjoying time at Adventure Park…he was having fun, running around…and being a normal kid,' his relatives wrote in a heart-breaking fundraiser
The devastated family of Richard Weinert-Soto confirmed his passing at Adventure Park (pictured) on Saturday evening in Visalia, central California
'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,' Velasco told ABC30.
Velasco said Adventure Park staff performed CPR on her son until paramedics arrived at around 5pm and took him to Kaweah Health by ambulance.
But Richard passed away in the hospital. 'He fought until the end and left many beautiful memories behind,' his family wrote on GoFundMe.
'He was the happiest, most loving, and kind boy,' they added. 'He enjoyed singing at his church, talking about God’s love and making his friends and family laugh.'
'He was amazing. He was special. Everyone who knew him knew that,' Richard's father Christopher Weinert also told ABC30.
Richard's family described him as 'the happiest, most loving, and kind boy'
'He fought until the end and left many beautiful memories behind,' his family wrote
'He was amazing. He was special. Everyone who knew him knew that,' Richard's father Christopher Weinert also told ABC30
His sister, Graciela Munoz Soto paid tribute to him on her Facebook page.
'I will love and miss you forever, fly high baby boy and dance up in the sky .. going to miss all your laughter, jokes, and smiles at home,' she wrote.
The family also gave more detail about the medical conditions Richard battled throughout his short life.
They said he suffered with both a heart condition and chronic lung failure.
He underwent six open heart surgeries after being born with his heart on the wrong side of his body and flipped backwards.
Richard's relatives thanked the staff at Adventure Park, Kaweah Health, Visalia PD, Life Star and Visalia Fire Department, who all tried their best to save him.
Richard was remembered by his sister for his 'laughter, jokes, and smiles at home'
English (US)