It's unclear whether the straps on "Verruckt" - German for "insane" - played any role in the death of Caleb Schwab, a Kansas lawmaker's son. According to. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. He would have fallen down without the raft.". The death of a 10-year-old at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas was even more devastating than could have been imagined with witnesses confirming that tragic child Caleb Schwab was decapitated while riding down the 168-foot-tall Verrckt slide! Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Boy dies on 'world's biggest waterslide' at Kansas park Water slide death: 10-year-old Caleb Schwab is in heaven drinking chocolate milk, says friend An investigation has been launched into. A promotional video about building the slide includes footage of two men riding a raft down a half-size test model and going slightly airborne as it crests the top of the first big hill. "It is with an absolutely broken heart we have to ask for prayers for the Schwab family, who suddenly and tragically lost their sweet and energetic son in an accident today," he wrote. Following the unspeakable accident, the park immediately shut down. Family took photos of friend's snapped harness; Details on 'Fox & Friends'. The pair had hoped to ride the "World's Largest Waterslide" together. The Verruckt ride will remain closed while the accident is investigated; the rest of the park is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Wednesday. Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family said they're heartbroken. Fellow rider Jess Sanford, from Lincoln, Nebraska, told CNN: When I heard a noise that didn't sound like it was supposed to come from that kind of ride, that's when I turned around. The Kansas City Star reports an attorney representing an affiliate of Kansas City, Kansas, park . My first thought was that it must have been a freak accidentwhat a horrible, horrible story, Truesdell told me. That is, until August 7, 2016, when the raft that 10-year-old Caleb Schwab was riding went airborne and hit a metal pole supporting a safety net, resulting in his decapitation and instant death. Police were investigating the death as a criminal case although police spokesman Cameron Morgan said Tuesday that designation did not mean they suspect foul play. or redistributed. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who witnessed the incident at the water park. Kansas City Police also released more information about the incident Monday, calling the boy's death a "fatal neck injury at the end of the ride." Additional charges against the defendants included reckless behavior in the design, construction and operation of the ride, along with aggravated child endangerment. (David Strickland via AP). . The boy, Caleb Schwab, was with his family at the Schlitterbahn waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, on Aug. 7, 2016, when the raft he was riding on the 17-story Verrckt waterslide went airborne at the crest of the drop. A young childs life was lost and his troubling death was mourned by family, friends and the entire Kansas community and beyond.. The ride was designed at the park, led by John Schooley with assistance from park co-owner Jeff Henry. The two women riding in the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, The horrific events incident happened onthe 'Verruckt'ride and the boy's brother saw it, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. All rights reserved. "The video, though, is a fictional and dramatized version of events created for entertainment purposes," wrote Burns, who ruled that the video should not have been presented as evidence, according to The New York Times. Despite the tragedy, visitor numbers were around average three days after, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. The other two were treated for facial injuries. Caleb died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, while riding the Verruckt, a water slide that's billed as the world's largest, at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kan. (David Strickland / AP) KANSAS . Henry and Schooley were ultimately indicted on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated endangerment of a child, interference with law enforcement, and involuntary manslaughter. Ken Martin, a Richmond, Virginia-based amusement park safety consultant, questioned whether the straps were appropriate for what he called "nothing more than a roller coaster with water.". As chance would have it, Schwabs father was a Kansas state representative. Jeffrey Henry, co-owner of the park, and John Schooley, the lead designer of the ride, have been charged with second-degree murder and face charges of aggravated endangerment of a child and aggravated battery. ABC's Elizabeth Hur has the latest on a pair of amusement park accidents. Witnesses describe moment they realised boy had died on the waterslide, Boy dies on 'world's biggest waterslide' at Kansas park, Caleb Thomas Schwab posing with his father Scott Schwab, a Kansas state lawmaker, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Water slide death: 10-year-old boy 'was decapitated' after falling from Kansas ride, Kansas waterslide death: Two women also injured in accident that killed 10-year-old boy, Water slide death: 10-year-old Caleb Schwab is in heaven drinking chocolate milk, says friend, Read more Family of two-year-old boy killed by alligator ask for privacy, 'Trail of blood' followed boy decapitated on water slide, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off selected items using this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. The lifeguard told Castaneda that there was nothing he could do to help. How Much Money Do Survivor Contestants Get Paid? "Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with," he said. As his raft soared over the crest, Caleb was tossed toward the netting. Along the way, riders clutch ropes along the inside of the raft. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. Conrad's wife snapped a photo at the end of the ride showing the strap missing, and Conrad didn't file a complaint with the park. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Rep. Scott Schwab, died on the 17-story. Castaneda, who said he hasn't been interviewed by police, said that he started running toward the slide, then heard a lifeguard yelling and a boy screaming hysterically. Last year Caleb's family was awarded nearly $20 million in settlement payments from two companies associated with Texas-based Schlitterbahn, along with the ride's general contractor, the raft manufacturer and a consultant on the slide, reports The Kansas City Star. It was at that point that he noticed the boy appeared to have been decapitated. The park reopened on Wednesday except for a large section that includes the waterslide, although its looming profile greeted visitors when they drove through the entrance. . Although they had built rides before, neither Henry nor Schooley had a background in mechanical engineering. WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. It was a Sunday afternoon, August 7, 2016, the temperature a pleasant 78 degrees, as ten-year-old Caleb Schwab began the 264-step climb to the top of Verrckt, the world's tallest waterslide, which. However, once the boys made it to the rafts, the operator informed the pair that they would not be Continue reading Brother Of Boy Decapitated On Kansas . I didn't understand what was going on so I only saw Caleb sliding down the last half of the slide, and then I saw the blood. They were accused of reckless behavior in the design, construction and operation of the Verrckt and faced various charges that included aggravated child endangerment and second-degree murder. Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. "[Nathan] was screaming, 'He flew from Verrckt, he flew Verrckt,'" Caleb's mother said. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. Legal Statement. It's too awful to even imagine, but now his parents, State Representative Scott Schwab and his wife Michele, are mourning the loss of their young son. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. Inside the Prize! ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who witnessed the incident at the water park. "No words can express the pain we all feel for this terrible tragedy. In 2012, the Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry, together with the senior designer John Schooley, fast-tracked Verrckts construction to coincide with an appearance on a reality TV show about amusement parks. -- A judge dismissed criminal charges Friday against a Kansas water park owner and the designer of a 17-story slide on which a 10-year-old boy was decapitated in 2016. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. A witness to the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy on the world's tallest water slide in Kansas has revealed gruesome details of how the boy died. Police ID suspect accused of stealing bus from JFK Airport, Kiss reveal last dates of their farewell tour, ending in NYC. I was so happy that Schlitterbahn hired me that I didn't think anything about the tragic accident on the Verrckt water coaster the previous year. Lawyers for the other defendants either could not be reached on Saturday or did not immediately respond to requests for comment. By Melissa Chan. All Rights Reserved. USA Today reports a full investigation is underway. And now, the Verrckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, is the site of a horrible accident, in which 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died Sunday. . Caleb Schwab was killed Sunday while zooming down the 168-ft.-tall Verruckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, police said. Authorities did not immediately identify the child who died at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, but state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife released a statement saying it was their son Caleb Thomas Schwab. It was at that point that he noticed the boy appeared to have been decapitated. At 169 feet tall, Verrckt was the tallest waterslide in the world. That was really exciting because we truly didnt know whether we were going to survive it or not, he says. Speaking anonymously, a source close to the inquiry confirmed the boy was decapitated. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The two women in his raft, who were not related to Caleb, suffered minor injuries, police said. Each strap is held in place by long Velcro-style straps, not by buckles. Castaneda said that he heard booms coming from the area of the slide and then saw a body wash down the slide directly after the raft did. A company spokeswoman said in a statement that Schlitterbahn's owners embraced the judge's decision, according to the Times. World News | Reuters | Tuesday August 9, 2016 A water park in Kansas was closed on Monday as police investigated the death of a state lawmaker's 10-year-old son on the world's tallest water. We dont know what the future holds, but hope that with a fresh look at the evidence and law, the parties can find a way to put this matter behind them., Tricia Bath, a lawyer for Mr. The slide is 168-feet tall and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. Caleb Schwab died Sunday on a slide at the . Winter Prosapio, a spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn, said the company welcomed the decision. A Kansas water park plans to tear down a giant water slide on which a 10-year-old boy died in 2016. A showcase of cinematic short documentary films, curated by The Atlantic. They realized that he was dead, so I don't think they tried to revive him.. Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family said they're heartbroken. Still, if other recent tragedies are any indication, some people will undoubtedly judge his parents for allowing Caleb to ride this attraction. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Park-goers Jess Sanford and Melanie Gocke were on the Verrckt slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kan., earlier in the day before little Caleb Thomas Schwab was killed on. "We are obviously disappointed and respectfully disagree with the court's decision," Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a statement. Police say Caleb Schwab was one of three passengers riding in a . Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. After a boy died while riding a nearly 170-foot-tall waterslide in Kansas in 2016, state attorneys brought criminal charges against operators and associates of the water park . Removal of the slide had been delayed pending the investigation and trial on the criminal charges, but last year a court gave approval for it to be demolished. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "You don't think you're gonna die.". He said Caleb was a hugger who loved his parents, sports and Jesus. August 9, 2016 5:21 PM EDT. She said the ride's operators sent them down the slide even though their combined weight was 393 pounds shy of the 400 weight minimum the park advertises as a requirement. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. A ride might be scary, but you figure that they have it figured out. We didnt know whether we had it figured out or not.. It features a 168-foot plummet, during which riders in three-person rafts travel as fast as 45 miles per hour. He said there were two women sitting in the back of the raft with blood on them. The lifeguard looked at me and assured me that its really not a big deal, she told Fox News. So they rode it again, only to see the restraint on her son's friend also come loose by the time it was over. Caleb was in a raft with two adults who were not related to him when he was killed on the slide, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the worlds tallest. Craig described the ride as "very, very rough," so much so that "when I got off, my head hurt.". At a height of 168 feet 7 inches (51.38 m), Verrckt became the world's tallest water slide when it opened on July 10, 2014, surpassing Kilimanjaro at Aldeia das guas Park Resort in Brazil. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Kansas State Rep. Scott Schwab, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. The child was riding on the Verruckt water slide when he died. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone toward the end of her ride. Truesdells chilling short documentary The Water Slide, premiering on The Atlantic today, uses news and promotional footage to depict the ill-conceived project and its tragic fallout. Witnesses have described the harrowing moments after a 10-year-old boy was decapitated while riding on the worlds biggest waterslide in Kansas while other riders have told of their safety straps also coming loose . 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