When you’re a child, one of the most thrilling activities during the summer is visiting an amusement park. These places are designed for family fun, and safety is a top priority. Yet, despite tight regulations and safety checks, there are things that no one can prepare for.
The Eisenbeiss family, an ordinary middle-class couple, had their lives change dramatically when they decided to celebrate their daughter London’s 10th birthday at Xander’s Splash Village in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
London was a beautiful and kind-hearted girl with a passion for swimming and animals. Her parents, Tina and Jerry, cherished her above all else, and safety was paramount. For her 10th birthday, London had one simple wish: to visit the biggest water park she could find and experience the thrilling water slides she had seen on TV.
The family set out to fulfill her dream, with Jerry and Tina always keeping a watchful eye on their daughter. As the day went on, London couldn’t contain her excitement to ride the park’s tallest slide, aptly named the Michigan Giant. She met the height requirement, and after a video message expressing her eagerness, she embarked on what should have been an exciting adventure.
However, disaster struck. Shortly after her exhilarating descent down the slide, London came out in cardiac arrest. The excitement and adrenaline had triggered an abnormal heart rhythm. Chaos ensued as her father desperately tried to revive her while her mother sought help from the lifeguard team. Despite everyone’s efforts, including the paramedics who arrived, London didn’t regain consciousness.
She was rushed to the hospital, where the family learned she had Long QT syndrome, a heart rhythm disorder that can lead to rapid and chaotic heartbeats, fainting, and even sudden death. London’s heart couldn’t handle the excitement, and despite all attempts, she fell into cardiac arrest.
After nine days, London succumbed to severe brain damage from oxygen deprivation. Her parents were devastated, but they didn’t want their daughter’s death to be in vain. They created the London Strong Foundation, a non-profit aimed at raising awareness of Long QT syndrome, advocating for increased safety measures, and providing CPR courses to park employees. Their goal was to prevent other families from going through a similar tragedy.
While they couldn’t change the past, the Eisenbeiss family dedicated themselves to ensuring that London’s memory would live on by improving safety in places like amusement parks, so that other children wouldn’t face the same fate.
The story of London’s tragic end serves as a call for greater awareness and safety in such facilities, making it a powerful tribute to a young life cut short.