Family Remembers 10-Year-Old Boy After Fatal Waterslide Tragedy
A family visit to a Kansas City waterpark in 2016 ended in heartbreak after 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died while riding Verrückt, a waterslide once promoted as the tallest in the world.
Caleb had visited Schlitterbahn Waterpark with his father Scott, his mother Michele, and his older brother Nathan. What was meant to be a summer family outing became one of the most devastating amusement park incidents in recent memory.
The Waterslide Known as Verrückt
Verrückt, a German word meaning “crazy,” stood 168 feet and 7 inches tall. The attraction was designed by John Schooley and was known for its extreme height and steep drop.
Riders were sent down a 17-storey descent before being carried over a 55-foot crest. The slide included netting supported by metal poles, which was intended to help keep riders inside the chute.
On the day of the tragedy, Caleb rode the attraction and suffered fatal injuries during the ride. His older brother Nathan, who was 12 at the time, was waiting near the bottom when the incident happened.
Brother’s Words After the Incident
Caleb’s mother, Michele, later recalled that Nathan was the one who alerted the family. She said he was screaming: “He flew from the Verruckt, he flew from the Verruckt”.
The words captured the confusion, fear, and shock of a child trying to explain something no family should ever have to face.
Michele said she attempted to move closer to the scene, but someone stopped her before she could see what had happened.
She recalled: “There was a gentleman who wouldn’t allow me to come close enough to see what was going on, and he just kept saying, ‘Trust me, you don’t want to go any further.’
“I kind of knew in my mind that I shouldn’t see it, that I probably don’t want to see it.”
A picture taken from the top of the Verrückt waterslide, once known as the ‘World’s Tallest Waterslide,’ before its opening in 2016. Tragically, in 2018, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab was decapitated while riding the slide, leading to its permanent closure shortly after the incident.… pic.twitter.com/go2u5BgQZq
— Morbid Knowledge (@MorbidKnowledge) July 18, 2024
Aftermath and Legal Settlement
Following Caleb’s death, the Schwab family reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount with the former owners of the park.
The family attorneys said in a statement: “All claims against the local amusement park as well as the raft manufacturer have been resolved.
“The family continues to pursue claims against a Texas-based company, Henry & Sons, which constructed Verruckt, as well as claims against a consultant who evaluated the slide before being opened to the public.”
Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts also released a statement after the tragedy, saying they were ‘heartbroken’ by what had happened.
The statement read: “In our 50 years of providing an environment for families and friends to gather, we’ve never experienced this kind of devastating event.
“The safety of our staff and our guests is our top priority. We are parents and grandparents ourselves, and many of us had ridden Verruckt with our own children and grandchildren over the years it operated.
“At Schlitterbahn we take safety very seriously. We support effective guidelines that increase guest and staff safety.”
Park Closure and Lasting Grief
Schlitterbahn Waterpark closed in September 2018, two years after Caleb’s death.
The incident left a lasting impact on the family, the community, and the wider amusement park industry. For Caleb’s loved ones, however, the tragedy remains deeply personal.
What began as a day of family fun ended with an unimaginable loss. Caleb Schwab was only 10 years old.
Rest in peace, Caleb.