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. Police said Schwabs death was due to a neck injury but are still investigating the circumstances of the deadly accident. John Schooley, who designed the killer slide, said that during testing he "didn't know whether he was going to survive" a run on the ride. Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City was a water park that opened on July 15, 2009 in Kansas City, Kansas. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. And so it sounded like, you know, they were going to do something about it.". Sandbags loaded into rafts during testing went airborne. "Basically we were crazy enough to try anything", Schooley later recalled. The video begins with a couple of thrill-seekers putting their lives on the line as they take a test run down the unfinished, open chute. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The son of Kansas City Republican Scott Schwab drowned on the Verruckt attraction at Schlitterbahn Waterpark last weekend. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Jess Sanford (left) and Melanie Gocke witnessed the horrific death of Caleb Schwab, Footage of the rafts flying off the ride have emerged as safety concernsoverthe water slide mount, The creator of the ride admitted they had struggled to engineer the ride with test runs after seeing the rafts catapult off the track, Caleb Schwab, the son of a Kansas lawmaker, was killed when he went on the Verruckt ride, People who went on the Verruckt slide have revealed they were plagued by problems including their belts coming apart, Caleb Thomas Schwab was decapitated while on the ride with his family, including father and Kansas lawmaker Scott Schwab, left devastated, The ride is the world's tallest water slide, world's tallest waterslide - the Verruckt, Water park boss charged as investigators brand ride a deadly weapon, The Verruckt ride, which means "insane" in German, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). It was supposed to be just another summer day at the Kansas City water park until Jess Sanford and Melanie Gocke witnessed something that would be imprinted on their minds forever: the death of 10-year-old Caleb Thomas Schwab from a neck injury while riding the worlds tallest water slide. Schwab, the son of a Kansas state legislator, died from a neck injury, The accident occurred at the world's tallest water slide, which will remain closed during the investigation. View our online Press Pack. The Verruckt water slide has been closed since the death of a 10-year-old on the ride in 2016. Waterparks in Texas are inspected by independent contractors, but safety is really up to the parks. July 10, 2014. She said she wriggled out of them without much effort. The incident's aftermath, however, resulted in a rapid decline of Schlitterbahn's reputation and financial standing, resulting in the closure of the park in September 2018. Developers plan new $330 million project at site of KCK's Schlitterbahn water park. 6. The tragedy itself, and perhaps how Schlitterbahn handled the aftermath of the tragedy along with . The ride was designed at the park, led by John Schooley with assistance from park co-owner Jeff Henry. Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing. The 370-acre (1.5km2), $750 million development included a nearly 40-acre (160,000m2) waterpark, which is Schlitterbahn's fourth waterpark and its first outside Texas. Kenneth Conrad told Fox4that his friend's shoulder strap had come "completely off" during a ride on the slide last year. [3] At 168feet 7inches (51.38m),[13] it surpassed Kilimanjaro at Aldeia das guas Park Resort in Brazil. Her friend Jess Sanford added: "I only saw Caleb slide down the last half of the slide, and then I saw the blood. The opening of the 17-storeyfreefall water ride has been revealed to have beenpushed back twice with further safetyconcerns coming to lightafter young Caleb Schwab was decapitated while on the ride, with horrified witnesses recounting the horror blood-streaks left on the ride. It doesn't exist anymore. Verruckt is closed during the investigation. Following the tragedy, Michelle told the show about her eldest son's screams of terror after the fatal accident. Riders were held in by nothing more than Velcro straps. GoPro footage shows the Schlitterbahn waterslide Verrckt that . [a] Verrckt permanently closed in 2016 following a fatal incident involving the decapitation of Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of Kansas state legislator (and later Secretary of State of Kansas) Scott Schwab.[4]. As of today, August 7, we are five years after his horrific death. [3] The park did not operate the following season, and Schlitterbahn's reputation and finances were negatively impacted. Original plans for Schlitterbahn Kansas City, the first Schlitterbahn Waterparks site outside Texas, called for a $750 million complex including hotels and resort areas. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. He said at the time that while the ride was dangerous, it was "safe dangerous". Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. "Because we really didn't know whether we were going to survive it or not. The riders who had seen the videos of 110-pound (50kg) sandbags flying off the rafts went on anyway. The family was reported to receive a settlement of nearly $20 million, local media said in May 2017. was open at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, . Eyewitness Melanie Gocke toldCNN: "I heard the noise, and I looked over immediately, and I saw his broken neck and him sliding down the slide leaving a blood trail.". A lot of our math was based on rollercoasters at first, and that didn't translate to a water slide like this. Instead they used "crude trial-and-error methods" to test its performance, out of haste to launch the ride. It's kind of like a tube.". [14] Their findings revealed that the use of the metal brace and netting system in the design,[15] along with the use of hook and loop straps to restrain the riders,[16] went against guidelines set by ASTM F-24 Committee on Amusement Ride and Devices. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She said: "There was a woman being treated for some kind of injury on her face and head. Shocking test video shows rafts flying off waterslide where boy, 10, was 'decapitated' . WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. It was featured on an episode of Xtreme Waterparks on the Travel Channel in June 2014 shortly before the ride opened. August 2018 76. Gocke described the rafts Velcro seat belts, and remembered testing out the straps to see how secure they were. On March 23, 2018, a grand jury issued an indictment against Schlitterbahn and Tyler Austin Miles, former director of operations, charging them with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, aggravated child endangerment, and interference with law enforcement. It appeared those who reached him first "just realised he was dead and didn't try to revive him", she added. The height was increased from its initial plan of 148 feet (45m), which was also above the limit. [22], On August 7, 2016, Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, died while riding Verrckt. Celebrating Kwanzaa in Tampa Bay: history, culture,, However, the particular ride that killed a 10-year old boy Sunday remains closed, RELATED:Expert wants feds to regulate rides after 2 terrifying incidents, Top items you will want on hand if your area floods, If your kid is fascinated with reptiles, then theyre, Todd Chrisley reports to prison in Pensacola, Missing womans husbands search history read in, FHP searching for Dade City driver who killed bicyclist, Garbage truck strikes woman, 71, critically injuring, Man missing at sea after huge fish pulled him overboard, DeSantis aims to expand COVID-19 protections in FL, Fla. Lottery launches 4 games with over $540M in. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone towards the end of her ride. The ride, which was taller than both the Statue of Liberty and Niagra Falls, left even its creator terrified. Those who reached him first "just realised he was dead and didn't try to revive him", she added. Best Friends' Tina, Meghan Live After House Flood? . [18], In 2018, the last operating season of the park, four attractions remained closed throughout the season after an audit by regulators found that each did not comply with the Kansas Amusement Ride Act.[19]. [3], Two months later, Verrckt was voted the world's "Best New Waterpark Ride" at the 2014 Golden Ticket Awards. Since the incident, PEOPLE has learned that Verruckt's scheduled 2014 opening was delayed multiple times due to glitches, including one issue that caused water rafts to fly off the slide and into the air. [22] Their findings revealed that the use of the metal brace and netting system in the design,[9] along with the use of hook and loop straps to restrain the riders,[32] violated guidelines set by ASTM F-24 Committee on Amusement Ride and Devices. However, we have restored the page for those who are interested in rider requirements. For other inquiries, Contact Us. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 9:25 AM EDT, Thu August 11, 2016, Water slide accident witness: I saw the blood, kansas water park death lah dnt lead _00013119.jpg. [27] In the immediate aftermath, Schlitterbahn Kansas City was closed pending an inspection. Youd think for something thats supposed to be known for being the tallest slide in the world theyd have a little bit more secure straps than Velcro, Sanford said. 2023 Cable News Network. August 10, 2016 at 11:32 am CDT. young Caleb Schwab was decapitated while on the ride, with horrified witnesses recounting the horror blood-streaks left on the ride. [6], In August 2016, 10-year old Caleb Schwab was killed while riding Verrckt. Miles was released on bail Friday afternoon. 1 of 17 Caleb Schwab died on the Verruckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kan., in August 2016. Caleb Schwab died in front of his family while riding a 168ft-high water slide in Kansas, billed as theworld's tallest. "His friend was screaming for help and I think that's when staff members and medics and stuff started running.". To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. FOOTAGE of rafts flying off the world's tallest waterslide where a 10-year-old boy was killed has been revealed as safety concerns around the ride begin to surface. The Lagoon at the original Schlitterbahn, in New Braunfels, in 1991. "That should tell you something about how I felt about it", he said. See Photos of LPBWs Tori and Zachs Messy House. Caleb Schwab, 10, was decapitated on the waterslide with it revealed the ride's opening was delayed TWICE over safety concerns. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS -- Kansas City, Kansas police say a young boy died on a popular water slide at a local water park Sunday, CBS affiliate KCTV reported. I don't even hardly remember driving home.". No one had ever done anything like this.". Police spokesman Officer Cameron Morgan . Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. He said: "As we were going down, we went down the first one, and as we were approaching the second one, he was in the back and you could hear him say that his strap came off and when we hit, he was real tense, shaken, because his strap had come completely off and literally he was using all of his force to hold him onto the slide.". Terese Hendrix was sitting in her living room when she heard some . All Rights Reserved. The 10-year-old son of Kansas lawmaker Scott Schwab died while riding the world's tallest waterslide - the Verruckt, in Kansas City. The park was closed down after the incident Sunday and remained closed Monday. [51] The defendants were arraigned in April 2018,[52] and the first criminal trial began in October. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. However, the particular ride that killed a 10-year old boy Sunday remains closed. Court documents also revealed that a team of experts who inspected the slide after Caleb's death found physical evidence that indicated that other rafts had gone airborne and collided with the overhead hoops and netting before the fatality". Michelle continued: "There was a gentleman who wouldn't allow me to come close enough to see what was going on and kept saying: 'No, trust me. Today, August 7, is the fifth anniversary of his horrific death in August 2016. The Verruckt ride, which means "insane" in German, was open at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kansas, when Caleb was killed. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Verruckt water slide opens at Schlitterbahn waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas to acclaim. 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