Boy, 10, dies in accident on world’s biggest water slide

WITNESSES told of the horrific moment a young boy was ‘decapitated’ on the world’s biggest water slide as he was flung from ride. WARNING: Graphic

WARNING: Story contains graphic content that may upset some readers

THE world’s tallest water slide has claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy, prompting US officials to shut down the 17-storey ride and open an investigation.

And now witnesses have described the horrific moment Caleb Schwab, the son of a Kansas state legislator, was ‘decapitated’ as he was flung from the ride known as the Verruckt.

Esteban Castaneda, who was at the Kansas City waterpark said he heard loud booms coming from the ride before he saw a body wash down the slide after a raft reported ABC7.

Castaneda said a lifeguard was trying to keep the crowd back and as he tried to help the lifeguard told him there was nothing he could do — that’s when he realised the boy appeared to have been decapitated.

The front seat of the raft was empty, suggesting that is where Schwab was sitting, and the two other women who were also on the ride suffered facial injuries. One of them reportedly described it as the “worst day of her life”.

Caleb Thomas Schwab (left) pictured with his father Scott Schwab, a Kansas state politician from Olathe. Picture: David Strickland/David Strickland via AP

Castaneda’s wife Leslie said that she had seen the blood-streaked ride shortly after the gruesome incident along with the distraught family of Schwab reported the Kansas City Star.

“I saw his (Schwab’s) brother. He was screaming,” she said.

“I’m really having a tough time with it. I really am.”

She said the brother — who had witnessed Schwab die — told a theme-park worker, ‘I just saw my little brother die because of one of your attractions’.

“The boy looked skinny. He shouldn’t have been on that ride,” she said.

The first hand accounts of what happened on the day come as it was revealed by the Kansas City Star that the slide had not been inspected by the state since it opened two years ago.

By law, responsibility of the slide’s safety rests with the park owners who said all rides are inspected daily before opening.

The family have since released a statement.

“Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those who he came into contact with,” his family said in a statement.

“As we try to mend our home with him no longer with us, we are comforted knowing he believed in his Saviour, Jesus, and they are forever together now. We will see him another day.”

The park has given no specific details on what happened to Schwab except to say the slide was closed after his death. A police spokesman said investigators were treating the death as a “civil matter” rather than a criminal incident.

The Verruckt at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City is billed as the world’s largest, according to officials. Picture: Charlie Riedel/AP

A park website says two to three people are typically strapped to a raft and then sent down a “jaw-dropping” 51.4 metres.

They are then “blasted back up a second massive hill and then sent down yet another gut wrenching 15-metre drop for the ultimate in water slide thrills.” Riders are supposed to be at least 137cm tall.

“Given that safety is our first priority, we have closed the Kansas City park today and Monday and have closed the ride pending a full investigation,” the park said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.”

The Kansas City Star said the park was teeming with children of legislators and their parents enjoying free passes when the tragedy occurred.

The Verruckt, which means “insane” in German, opened in July 2014 and was certified as the world’s tallest water slide by Guinness World Records.

The slide’s opening was delayed a few times, though the operators did not provide reasons for the delays. Two media sneak preview days in 2014 were cancelled because of problems with a conveyor system that hauls 45kg rafts to the top of the slide.

Prosapio said in 2014 that park officials would not hesitate to delay operation again for however long it takes to make sure the slide is safe.

Schlitterbahn's Verruckt waterside is the tallest in the world. Picture: Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star via AP, File

In a news article linked to the news release announcing a 2014 delay, Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry told USA Today that he and senior designer John Schooley had based their calculations when designing the slide on roller coasters, but that didn’t translate well to a water slide like Verruckt.

In early tests, rafts carrying sandbags flew off the slide, prompting engineers to tear down half of the ride and reconfigure some angles at a cost of $US1 million, Henry said.

A promotional video for a show 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.