Ten-year-old Caleb Schwab tragically lost his life in a devastating incident while enjoying himself at a water park.
Caleb was at Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, riding the world’s tallest water slide, Verruckt, when a fatal accident occurred. The ride, named “insane” in German, featured multi-person rafts descending a massive 168-foot drop at speeds reaching 70mph, then ascending a hill and dropping 50 feet into a pool.
Tragically, during the ride’s ascent, Caleb’s raft became airborne, leading to a fatal collision with a metal support beam within the safety netting, resulting in his decapitation. The incident occurred in 2016, just two years after the ride opened.
Scott Schwab, Caleb’s father and a US politician, expressed his grief, mentioning that out of six family members who visited the park, only five returned. He recounted the moments leading up to the tragedy when Caleb and his brother Nathan prepared to ride the slide.
After the incident, investigations revealed that the raft had an uneven weight distribution, with Caleb seated in the front alongside two heavier passengers. The total weight was slightly below the recommended limit of 250kg, contributing to the tragic outcome.
The safety measures of the ride, where riders must be at least 54 inches tall, were also scrutinized. Riders were secured with nylon seatbelt-like straps and Velcro-style fasteners, with concerns raised about the effectiveness of these restraints.
The incident prompted discussions about safety oversight in amusement parks, particularly focusing on the design and operation of high-speed attractions. The designer of Verruckt, Jeff Henry, faced criticism for prioritizing speed and height without proper engineering qualifications.
Following legal proceedings and settlements, Schlitterbahn and individuals involved faced charges related to negligence and safety violations. Despite the tragic outcome, the Schwab family continues to remember Caleb and advocate for stricter safety regulations in amusement parks.
The impact of Caleb’s loss remains profound on his family, who cherish memories of him and work towards ensuring such tragedies are prevented in the future. The legal aftermath of the incident highlighted the importance of stringent safety standards in the amusement park industry.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and <