A mother has recalled the devastating moment her eldest son began screaming after witnessing the fatal accident that claimed his younger brother's life at a waterpark.
Ten-year-old Caleb Schwab died in August 2016 while riding Verrückt, a record-breaking waterslide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.
Caleb had been visiting the attraction with his parents and siblings when what should have been an enjoyable family day ended in tragedy.
His older brother Nathan, who was just 12 years old at the time, was waiting near the bottom of the slide when the accident happened.
Years later, Caleb's parents spoke publicly about the horrifying events of that day, including the desperate words Nathan screamed as he tried to alert his family.
Warning: This article contains descriptions of a fatal accident involving a child that some readers may find distressing.
What did Caleb Schwab's brother scream after the accident?
Caleb's mother, Michele Schwab, revealed that Nathan was waiting for his younger brother to finish the ride when the accident occurred.
Instead of seeing Caleb safely reach the bottom, Nathan witnessed a catastrophic incident.
Speaking to ABC News in 2017, Michele recalled the words her eldest son screamed as he desperately tried to tell his parents what had happened.
According to Michele, Nathan repeatedly shouted that Caleb had flown from the Verrückt waterslide.
His cries alerted the family that something had gone terribly wrong.
Michele rushed towards the scene, but another person prevented her from getting close enough to see what had happened.
She later explained that the man repeatedly urged her not to continue towards the accident.
Although she did not yet know the full extent of Caleb's injuries, Michele said she began to understand that something devastating had happened.
The moment would mark the beginning of an unimaginable loss for the Schwab family.
What happened to Caleb Schwab on the Verrückt waterslide?
Caleb was visiting Schlitterbahn Kansas City with his family in August 2016.
The waterpark was home to Verrückt, a towering attraction that had been recognised as the tallest waterslide in the world.
Riders travelled down the slide in multi-person rafts, beginning with a steep descent before climbing a second hill and continuing towards the finish.
Caleb was riding with two other passengers when the accident occurred.
During the descent, the raft became airborne, and Caleb struck part of the overhead safety structure.
The structure included netting supported by metal components intended to help contain riders within the slide.
However, the impact caused catastrophic injuries.
Caleb was decapitated and died as a result of the accident.
The two other passengers were also injured.
The tragedy prompted immediate questions about the slide's design, testing and safety precautions.
How tall was the Verrückt waterslide?
Verrückt was one of the most ambitious attractions ever constructed at an American waterpark.
Standing approximately 168 feet and seven inches tall, or 51.38 metres, it was taller than the drop at Niagara Falls.
The name Verrückt comes from German and can be translated as crazy or insane.
The attraction opened to the public in July 2014 after a complicated development and testing process.
Visitors had to climb 264 steps to reach the top.
Once seated in a raft, riders descended a steep initial drop equivalent to approximately 17 storeys.
The raft would then travel up a second hill, around 55 feet high, before descending towards the final section.
The ride's height and speed were central to its appeal, attracting visitors eager to experience a record-breaking waterslide.
But its unusual design also created significant engineering challenges.
Why was there netting above the waterslide?
Verrückt featured overhead netting along sections of the slide, supported by a framework containing metal components.
The structure was intended to prevent riders from being thrown out of the attraction.
However, during Caleb's ride, the raft became airborne and he struck the overhead structure.
The resulting injuries were fatal.
The accident raised serious concerns about whether the ride's design adequately accounted for the forces experienced by passengers.
Investigations and subsequent legal proceedings examined the attraction's engineering, testing procedures and operational safety.
Following Caleb's death, the slide was immediately closed and never reopened to the public.
Mother recalls being stopped from seeing her son
In an interview with ABC News the following year, Michele described her desperate attempt to reach Caleb after hearing Nathan's screams.
As she approached the area, a man stopped her from getting any closer.
He urged her to trust him and warned her against seeing the scene.
Michele later explained that, even before receiving confirmation of her son's death, she sensed that she should not continue.
The family had arrived at the park expecting an ordinary day together.
Instead, Michele and her husband Scott were confronted with the sudden death of their ten-year-old son.
The couple would later speak publicly about their grief and the devastating impact on their surviving children.
How did Caleb's family cope after his death?
In the months following the accident, the Schwab family struggled to come to terms with their loss.
Caleb's father, Scott Schwab, explained that the family would sometimes watch old videos of their son to feel close to him.
However, he acknowledged that looking back at those memories could be emotionally overwhelming.
Some days, the family found it too painful to watch the recordings.
At other times, particularly during sleepless nights, the videos offered a way to remember Caleb and the happy moments they had shared.
Scott was serving as a Republican state legislator in Kansas at the time of the accident and later became Kansas Secretary of State.
Despite his public position, the family faced an intensely personal tragedy that attracted national and international media attention.
Their interviews provided a glimpse into the lasting emotional consequences of the accident.
What happened after the waterslide tragedy?
Caleb's death prompted investigations and legal action involving companies associated with the design, construction and operation of Verrückt.
The Schwab family pursued civil claims against parties connected with the attraction.
According to ABC News, the family subsequently reached settlements with the waterpark's former owners and other parties.
Attorneys representing the family confirmed that certain claims had been resolved, while others involving companies and consultants associated with the slide remained under consideration at that stage.
The tragedy also generated wider debate about the regulation of amusement rides and the responsibilities of operators introducing unusually large or complex attractions.
Safety procedures, engineering assessments and independent oversight became central issues in the aftermath.
What did Schlitterbahn say about Caleb's death?
Following the accident, Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts issued a statement expressing its devastation over the tragedy.
The company said that it had never experienced an incident of that magnitude during its decades of operating waterparks.
It emphasised that the safety of guests and employees was a priority and expressed support for effective safety guidelines.
The statement also acknowledged the personal impact on those involved, including staff members and families who had previously used the attraction.
Despite those assurances, Verrückt remained permanently closed.
Was the world's tallest waterslide demolished?
Yes. Verrückt was permanently closed after Caleb's death and was eventually dismantled in November 2018.
The wider Schlitterbahn Kansas City waterpark also ceased operating in September 2018.
Its closure brought an end to the attraction that had once been promoted as a record-breaking achievement in waterslide engineering.
The tragedy remains one of the most widely reported fatal accidents involving a modern waterpark ride.
For many people, the story serves as a reminder that record-breaking attractions must also meet rigorous safety standards.
Remembering Caleb Schwab
Nearly a decade after the accident, Caleb's story continues to attract attention, particularly because of the heartbreaking accounts shared by his parents.
His brother Nathan was only 12 when he witnessed the incident and desperately tried to alert their family.
Michele's recollection of his screams offers a painful reminder of how quickly an ordinary family outing became a life-changing tragedy.
While much of the public discussion has focused on the waterslide's extraordinary height and the circumstances of the accident, Caleb's family have also spoken about the little boy they lost.
Their memories of him, preserved through photographs and family videos, remain an important part of his story.
For the Schwab family, the consequences of that day extended far beyond the closure of a waterpark attraction.
Source: UNILAD, May 6, 2025, drawing on the Schwab family's 2017 ABC News interview and subsequent reporting about the Verrückt waterslide accident.
