Documentary exposes flaws in Verrückt slide after Caleb Schwab’s death
Film highlights fatal design flaws in Verrückt slide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark
A documentary delved into the circumstances surrounding Caleb Schwab’s tragic death. In 2016, Caleb and his family visited the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas, expecting a day of fun. Instead, the outing ended in tragedy.
Caleb rode the waterpark’s renowned ‘Verrückt’ slide, once the world’s tallest water slide at 169 feet. The ride, opened in 2014, attracted many visitors due to its record-breaking height. Riders climbed over 200 steps to reach the top, then descended in water rafts, reportedly reaching speeds of 70 mph. Sadly, Caleb was decapitated during the ride.
The boy was thrown from the raft into the netting meant for safety, hitting a metal pole that killed him instantly. Filmmaker Nathan Truesdell investigated Caleb’s death, creating a short documentary. He used news and promotional footage to highlight the ride’s poor design and tragic consequences.
Caleb Schwab, 10, Attended Church With Family Hours Before Death on Verrückt at… https://t.co/zhenURyKP3 #News pic.twitter.com/49MYgsCBpS
— GodSend™ (@GodSendTM) August 9, 2016
Truesdell revealed, “There wasn’t a lot of science or ride engineering involved in the testing and design. They were sending sandbags down and hoping they didn’t fly off. The netting that killed Caleb was meant to prevent rafts from flying off entirely.” Court documents supported his findings, showing that other rafts had gone airborne and collided with the netting before Caleb’s fatal accident.
Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry and senior designer John Schooley faced criminal charges, but these were dismissed due to inadmissible evidence. Operations manager Tyler Miles, charged with involuntary manslaughter, also had his charges dropped. Although no prosecutions followed Caleb’s death, Schlitterbahn Waterpark closed permanently in September 2018 after Caleb’s incident and other issues at the park.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The New York Times reports that the water slide that decapitated a 10-year-old boy in Kansas violated basic design standards.(read more)
- Joe.co.uk reports on a chilling documentary that investigates the world’s tallest waterslide, which decapitated a 10-year-old child. The investigation reveals safety concerns, lax regulations, and the consequences of hubris, leading to the tragic death.(read more)
- Ladbible explores the tragic death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab on the ‘world’s tallest water slide’, Verrückt, highlighting gross negligence, lax regulations, and hubris, leading to the incident.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to Caleb Schwab at Schlitterbahn Waterpark?
Caleb Schwab was decapitated on the Verrückt ride after being thrown from his raft and hitting a metal pole.
How tall was the Verrückt water slide?
The Verrückt water slide was 169 feet tall.
What did filmmaker Nathan Truesdell discover about the design of the Verrückt ride?
Nathan Truesdell discovered that there was little science or engineering involved; sandbags were used for testing.
Were there any criminal charges related to Caleb Schwab’s death?
Criminal charges against Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry, designer John Schooley, and operations manager Tyler Miles were dismissed.
What happened to Schlitterbahn Waterpark after Caleb Schwab’s death?
Schlitterbahn Waterpark closed permanently in September 2018 following Caleb Schwab’s death and other incidents.
