The tragic death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab shocked many when he was decapitated while riding the world’s tallest water slide in 2016. Caleb was at the Verruckt attraction at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, accompanied by his family. His mother, Michelle Schwab, witnessed the horrifying incident as her son rode the slide with his older brother, Nathan Schwab.
The Verruckt, meaning “insane” in German, was a towering 168-foot slide that had been certified by Guinness World Records as the tallest of its kind. Riders would experience a steep drop of nearly 168 feet and speeds reaching up to 70 mph before ascending a hill and plunging into a pool. Tragically, during the ride’s second hill, Caleb’s raft became airborne, causing him to strike a metal support beam, which led to his death.
Moments before the accident, Caleb and Nathan reached the top of the slide together. Nathan was the first to descend and waited for his brother at the bottom. In the aftermath, Michelle recounted the harrowing moment when Nathan screamed, “He flew from Verruckt!” as she rushed to the scene, only to be blocked from getting closer.
Caleb’s father, Scott Schwab, expressed his devastation, recalling the moment he learned of his son’s death: “I just need to hear you say it. Is my son dead? And he said, ‘Yes, your son is dead.’ It was surreal.” He described the shock that enveloped him, stating, “I don’t even remember driving home.”
In addition to Caleb’s tragic fate, two other passengers in the same raft—both women—suffered injuries. One sustained a broken jaw, while the other required stitches for a facial bone fracture. At the time, Caleb weighed just 34 kilograms, while the two women weighed 125 kilograms and 89 kilograms. This uneven weight distribution contributed to the raft’s instability, leading to the catastrophic incident.
Despite the total weight of 248 kilograms being below the recommended 250 kilograms, a park worker later stated that there was a significant lack of training for employees operating the rides. Reports indicated that inspections consisted of minimal checks, with employees merely confirming that rides were safe based on one-time descents.
Footage from the documentary The Water Slide revealed alarming tests of the Verruckt, where a raft was seen becoming airborne during early trials. A crew member can be heard remarking, “It fell backwards and killed every sandbag in there,” highlighting ongoing safety concerns surrounding the attraction.
In light of the tragedy, Scott Schwab addressed fellow lawmakers, advocating for legislative changes to improve ride safety regulations. His efforts resulted in the Schwab family securing settlements totaling around $20 million with several parties, including Schlitterbahn, in early 2017. The financial arrangements concerning the two injured riders remained confidential.
The events surrounding Caleb’s death have sparked ongoing discussions regarding amusement park safety and the need for stringent oversight to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
