Will Koch, owner and president of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, has died suddenly at his family home in Santa Claus, Indiana, reportedly from complications relating to diabetes.

Koch, aged 48, was found dead at the family house on Sunday 13 June and is survived by his wife, Lori, and three children: Lauren, Leah, and William.

He was the grandson of industrialist Louis J. Koch, who opened the Holiday World park in 1946 as a retirement hobby.

Will Koch was chief executive officer of Koch Development Corporation, the parent company of Holiday World Theme Park and Splashin' Safari Water Park.

Under his direction, the theme park followed an aggressive growth programme, including the addition of Splashin' Safari Water Park in 1993, The Raven and The Legend wooden roller coasters in 1995 and 2000, plus The Voyage wooden coaster in 2006, for which he was a designer.

In 2004, Koch received the international Applause Award from the amusement industry. This year, the park premiered Wildebeest, the world’s longest water coaster.