The tragic story of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab’s death on the world’s tallest waterslide, Verrückt, is a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of safety measures in amusement park rides. Caleb was riding the slide with his brother Nathan when the raft they were in became airborne on the ride’s second hump, causing Caleb to be ejected and fatally struck by the metal supports.
The view from the top of the terrifying ride
The incident occurred at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City on August 7, 2016, and despite attempts to separate the boys, Nathan witnessed the tragic moment and screamed for help. His parents, Scott and Michelle Schwab, later learned the horrific truth. The mother recalled a moment when she was stopped from approaching the scene, and a man told her, “Trust me, you don’t want to go any further.”
Safety concerns surrounding the slide came to light after the tragedy, with investigations revealing that there was insufficient testing and engineering involved in the design of the ride. The ride’s creator, Jeff Henry, lacked formal engineering credentials, and the safety measures, such as netting, were hastily implemented. The park opened Verrückt in 2014 after a two-year delay, but safety protocols were clearly insufficient, leading to a tragic loss.
Though charges of second-degree murder were initially filed against Henry and the slide’s senior designer, they were later dropped. The park is now under new management, but the memory of this tragic incident remains as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting safety standards.
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