We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The only thing Sanford, a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, did know on this summer road trip was that Schlitterbahn Kansas City had an attraction no other water park could claim: the Verrckt, the tallest waterslide in the world. 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. The 10-year-old son of a Kansas state lawmaker was decapitated Sunday in an accident on the world's tallest water slide at Schlitterbahn, a Kansas City waterpark, witnesses say. It sounds like either statements could be conjecture.. Even with the investigation into Schlitterbahn and Verrckt, and the larger questions surrounding safety regulation and oversight within the amusement-park industry, experts and lobbyists say that most rides are safe enough.In 2016, the most recent year from which data is available, 384 million guests experienced 1.7 billion rides at four hundred U.S. amusement parks without injury, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the worlds largest trade association representing the global attractions industry. What better treat is there in this world than spending a steamy hot Sunday afternoon in August at a water park? In March 2018, a forty-seven-page indictment from a grand jury in Wyandotte County revealed, among other things, whistle-blower evidence of how Schlitterbahn officials allegedly covered up other safety-related incidents on Verrckt, and concluded that the slides lack of safety standards posed a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death or severe bodily harm. While it isnt unique for amusement parks to get sued for isolated incidents, the magnitude of the Schwab tragedy, and Schlitterbahns decorated profile, made the grand jurys findings of the water parks negligence that much more damning. Note: Details on Schwab's death may be disturbing to some. TWO teenagers have described the horrific moment they saw a trail of blood following Caleb Schwab's body down a waterslide - after he was tragically killed on the 168ft-high ride. One of its most popular attractions, 168-foot-tall Verruckt, which means 'insane' in German, opened in 2014. Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City was a water park that opened on July 15, 2009 in Kansas City, Kansas. Meanwhile, an online fund has raised more than $25,000 to cover funeral expenses for the family. The two other women on the tide, who were not related to Caleb, were still strapped inside the raft with one nursing a broken jaw and another with a broken face bone,while the first seat in the raft was empty, likely to have been where Caleb was sitting. The Verruckt waterslide under construction on November 11, 2013. Brittany Hawkins, a twenty-year-old who had previously worked at the park as a lifeguard, had her strap come undone and came within inches of hoops and netting after her raft went airborne. As Michele Schwab, Caleb's mother, tried to get closer to see what was going on, a gentleman stopped her. Challenging the laws of physics, the slide presents a drop from seventeen stories high, hitting up to sixty-five miles per hour and often leaving people soaking wet, shaking with a mixture of raw excitement and genuine fear. When the group was over the weight limit, Jeffrey was relieved that he had an excuse not to go down Verrckt and hopped out of line. Not reporting injuries makes no sense to me. Boy, 12, dies on Verrckt slide at Schlitterbahn water park in KCK, http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article94254507.html#storylink=cpy, http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/07/09/verruckt-water-slide-schlitterbahn-park/12411769/. She turned around to see what was happening. One by one, people visiting their spouses or children at the Overland Park cemetery come by the back corner of the burial ground to chat with me about anything, mainly the oppressive heat, their loved ones, and Caleb. In a January 25, 2019 court hearing, an attorney representing Henry & Sons Construction, Schlitterbahn's general contracting affiliate, argued that the evidence shown to the grand jurors was flimsy and inadmissable because it included clips from a scripted show highlighting the construction of the waterslide, the Kansas City Star reported. That should tell you something about how I felt about it.. (Brownback, now the U.S. ambassador for International Religious Freedom, declined to be interviewed.) An excerpt of a first person account of riding the Verruckt water slide for the first time published by the Associated Press gave an idea of how uniquely terrifying the water slide truly could be. According to the March indictment, at least thirteen nonfatal injuries suffered by guests who rode Verrckt were recorded in the 182 days the ride was open between 2014 and 2016, up to and including the day of Calebs death. Castaneda also said that he and his 14-year-old cousin had ridden the slide earlier that day and the teenager had told him that toward the end of the ride his velcro belt had come undone. Local media has since revealed the water slide involved in the incident had not been inspected by the state since it opened two years ago. Schlitterbahn has been sued three times since 2014 although never for the waterslide (file picture). 'All of the regulations are really done at the state and local level with respect to amusement parks and waterparks. But the death over the weekend of a Kansas state lawmaker's 10-year-old son on a waterslide billed as the world's largest is the latest example that dangers lurk in the appealing slides and wave pools. The lifeguard also said that Schlitterbahn had only a select group of more experienced employees present for the slides testing. Police have now released. There are two Bible verses on the back of Calebs headstone. 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. Even with the slide finally down, a community that once looked to Schlitterbahn as a summer refuge remains shaken and searching for answers of what went wrong. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Caleb Schwab in 2016. David Alvey, the current mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, told KSHB that he still thinks Schlitterbahn has been a good investment for the area. The slide is 168 feet tall and has 264 stairs . And he just kept saying, No, trust me, you dont want to go any further, she recalled. The chute drops 168 feet, 7 inches, and the raft hits speeds of 60 to 70 mph. * It's for thrill seekers of the world, people into extreme adventure." *(bold emphasis mine) The netting on Schlitterbahn's Verruckt being removed by crews following on the ride death of 12yo boy. One is a line from John 3:16. Well have more details for you and we will share them, she said, but right now our focus is with the family.. Witnesses at the time said he went down the first drop, then flew out and hit the netting that enclosed the ride. I said, Its a speed blaster. Well, it didnt exist. Two horrified witnesses have spoken out about the gruesome scene when a boy was decapitated by the world's largest waterslide. With June 15, 2013, set as the deadline for the entire project, Henry and Schooley had put themselves in a tight spot. You read it quietly and are reminded again that Caleb Schwab should still be here. Pumping Through A War Zone: Sabrina Siddiqui's First Postpartum Work Trip Was To Cover Bidens Visit To Kyiv, Ukraine, Kate Middleton Shares The Special Talent She & Princess Charlotte Have In Common, Martin Short Gave Up Seat On A Plane So Chance The Rapper Could Sit With His Daughter, Kim Kardashian Shares Sweet Moment With Son Saint Then It Takes A Turn, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Investigators are treating the death as a 'civil matter' rather than a criminal incident, a police spokesman said Monday, as the park and Kansas authorities pressed to sort out what caused the tragedy. Schlitterbahn said last week's indictment is "full of false information," and the company also rejected its allegations that Miles and the company withheld information from law enforcement officials. Three riders are weighted together on a scale, and combined must be between 400 and 550 lbs. Witnesses have described the horrific scene as the 'worst day in my life'. Police have revealed that 10-year-old Caleb Schwab - who was involved in a fatal accident at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City on Sunday - died of a "neck . Ugh I can't even imagine that happening, thoughts out to the family and friends, especially to the other 2 that were on this ride when it happened. But, it's Twitter, so it's not that reliable. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.. Kelsey Friedrichsen, a witness who was at the park at the time of the accident, told People; The Verruckt (which is German for "insane") water slide was promoted as the tallest water slide in the world when it opened in June. KANSAS CITY, Kansas -- 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. 'Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with,' the statement said. "We honestly dont know whats happened," Prosapio told the Kansas City Star. Courtesy of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts; Retouching: Will Herwig. Kansas City Police confirmed Caleb (pictured) had died from a 'fatal neck injury at the end of the ride', The youngster was just ten years old when he was killed in the horrific accident. The Red Cross offers tips specifically for water parks. Riders go down the worlds tallest water slide named Verruckt at Schlitterbahn Waterpark, in Kansas City, Kansas on July 9, 2014. Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records the water park's website reportedly said riders had to be at least 54 inches (137 centimetres tall) to get on the slide. The collateral? RELATED: Gruesome details revealed in boy's water slide death at Kansas park. T he Schlitterbahn waterpark, in Kansas city - where Caleb Schwab tragically died on the Verruckt ride Sunday, has been sued three times for negligence since 2014. Riders have to climb the ride's 264 steps to the top before taking the 168-foot plunge at 65 mph, Shark the 'size of a boat' swims within metres of beachgoers, The public give their opinion on Prince Harry's explosive new book, Driver transitioning to 'sovereign citizen' is shut down by police, Starmer wants to use private hospitals to tackle NHS waiting lists, Royal Editor at Vanity Fair discusses the fallout of the Harry's memoir, Media commentators bash Prince Harry's new memoir Spare, Colonel: Harry's Taliban comments could make his threats greater, Former British Army Commander discusses Prince Harry's PTSD, Prince Harry talks about fighting the Talibans during his service, Barclay and Whitty both arrive at Downing Street for talks with PM, Horrific fight breaks out between two tigresses at Russian circus, Victoria Beckham uses her own makeup line to create smokey eye. August 2018 76. Kansas City Police have released more information about the tragic incident, saying the young boy suffered a "fatal neck injury at the end of the ride". Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts. It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. In an interview published in July 2018 with Texas Monthly, Henry refused to acknowledge that he could have designed something that would eventually kill Caleb. In 1979, years after buying Camp Landa along central Texass Comal River, the Henry family purchased the property next door and rebranded the resort into a four-slide water park. They said they did not know what had happened. The financial crisis of 2008 caused priorities to shift in many areas, including the amusement-park industry. In September 2005, the company announced plans for a park in Kansas City, Kansasits first water park outside the Lone Star State and the fourth of five current facilitieswith grandiose visions of building the kind of towering resort with hotels, cabins, and tree houses that would take Schlitterbahn to the next level. This content is imported from youTube. That poor boy had his whole life left to live. Its German name means insane.. Not too far away, Nathan Schwab was waiting at the bottom of the slide for his brother, Caleb, to come down Verrckt. (The same consultant would later advise Henry that the ride was unfinished and unsafe.) Two media sneak preview days in 2014 were cancelled because of problems with a conveyor system that hauls 100-pound rafts to the top of the slide. Storey added: The industrys long-standing safety record exists because safety is our top priority., A safety expert whos worked with Schooley and Henry says allegations of misconduct are baffling. And then I came back and told my brother and sister. The child was riding on the Verruckt water slide when he died. But even with bad knees, nothing was stopping the struggling Dueas from getting to the top. The park was hit with fines of $96,000 although they settled for $66,000. The ride was simply too fast. In March 2014, Linda Stomboly. The child who died was the oldest son of Kansas Rep. Scott Schwab, R-Olathe. Prosapio said during the news conference that the park's rides are inspected daily and inspected by an "outside party" before the start of each season. Henry later told Texas Monthly he was acting when he said those things in order to glamorize Verrckt, but at the time, he continued to glorify the ride's danger: Its complex, its fast, its mean. Local officials, media, and even Kansas governor Sam Brownback came to take part in the first rides. I just made it up on the spot, Henry recalled to Grantland. They dont even talk about it anymore, really, the young employee said to me, almost embarrassed. Other witness accounts stated the scale at the top of the slide was malfunctioning that day. This file photo shows Schlitterbahn's 168-foot-tall Verruckt speed slide/water coaster in Kansas City, Kansas, Caleb was understood to be sat at the front of the raft and was ejected as it hit the second drop (pictured) some 50ft from the ground. It was not immediately clear why as 12-year-old was on the slide. From the ninth floor of his office, staring at Verrckt was once inescapable: It [stood] as a monument to a murder.. As of now, it is unclear whether the park will open for the 2019 seasonseason passes were made available for Schlitterbahn's four Texas locations earlier this month, but not for Kansas City. "There was a woman being treated for some kind of injury on her face and head," witness Kelsey Friedrichsen, 27, told PEOPLE. Photo: David Strickland via AP. Caleb Schwab was killed going down the 168-foot-tall "Verruckt" ride at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kansas last August. "We don't have any news so far about our Kansas City park at the time," Prosapio told the Kansas City Star. If we actually knew how to do this, and it could be done that easily, it wouldnt be that spectacular, Schooley said at the time, according to the indictment. Caleb Schwab AP. There was a very strong majority of legislators from that part of the state who said Schlitterbahn would be responsible for their own safety measures.. Ride designer Jeff Henry looks over his creation, the worlds tallest waterslide named Verrckt at Schlitterbahn Waterpark, in Kansas City, Kan. July 9, 2014. When she said no, I said, Theres a first for everything.. Judge Jay-Jay shares her advice on making friends as adults, Every couple who's left Married At First Sight Australia 2023, Discover where it all went wrong for Josh and Melissa on Married At First Sight, "This man does not deserve me" Caitlin's emotional speech leaving Married At First Sight, Treasure Island Matty McLean has a secret weapon to win Treasure Island, In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle Amy Bowkett got to work. The comments below have been moderated in advance. He said he had to grip the handles using his legs and told park staff what happened once he got down. Other traumatised witnesses said they saw Caleb's family crying as emergency services treated the other two women who were on the raft. When the raft pushed off, the seventy-three-pound Schwab was in the front seat.Sanford was eating a funnel cake with her back to the slide when she heard a noise, almost as if a ride had derailed. Galveston's Schlitterbahn does not have the slide Schwab was killed on, but. Is that one of the ride boats to the right? Courtesy Schwab Family -- A 10-year-old boy who died on a water slide in Kansas City, Kansas, suffered a fatal neck injury, officials said, as a witness recounted the "horrific scene" and the "panic" that erupted in the wake of the incident last Sunday. Five defendants are charged in Schwab's death: Jeff Henry, John Schooley, Henry and Son's Construction, Tyler Miles and Schlitterbahn Water Park (KC Water Park Management Company). Are you a high school dropout? Esteban Castaneda, who was at the Kansas City waterpark, told ABC 7he heard loud booms coming from the ride before noticing a body wash down after a raft. Did Rupert Murdoch Blow Up Fox News's Defense? The poles holding the structure up were rusted, and the paint was chipping away. Henry is also facing separate charges for drug possession, including a felony count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and hiring someone for sex. People on reddit were being as you'd expect ("Omg so unsafe I'd never ride"), but there were a few people who said they were there and that there was blood everywhere. Prosapio could not say whether the boy fell from the 17-story ride and she could not even say what time Sunday afternoon the incident occurred. Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the park's website. SCHLITTERBAHN WATERPARK SUED THREE TIMES SINCE OPENING IN 2014, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Moment man casually executes homeless man on St Louis sidewalk, Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, Child reads from sexually explicit book at Maine school board meeting, Woman appears to fake injury while arguing with tradie next door, Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', AFA president gives passionate rant speaking about student debt, Shocking moment students pepper-sprayed during anti-racism protest, AG Garland says every prisoner 'deserves dignity and respect', Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race, Gruesome details revealed in boy's water slide death at Kansas water park | abc7.com, Schlitterbahn Has Been Sued At Least Three Times For Negligence Since 2014 | KCUR, Do not sell or share my personal information. This July I visited Schlitterbahn on the kind of blistering ninety-five-degree July day when you could easily bake chocolate chip cookies if you left the dough out in the sun. The ten-year-old was obeying all of the rider instructions given to him, but the raft that was carrying Schwab, Baetz, and Barnes allegedly had a propensity for going abnormally fast and going airborne more frequently than other rafts, according to an indictment that would be filed later. Without specifically mentioning water slides, Kansas statutes describe an 'amusement ride' as 'any mechanical or electrical device that carries or conveys passengers along, around or over a fixed or restricted route or course or within a defined area for the purpose of giving its passengers amusement, pleasure, thrills or excitement.'. In early 2017, Schwabs family settled with Schlitterbahn and other companies involved in their sons death for nearly twenty million dollars. On June 16, 2016, Norris JJ Groves, the owner of a towing company in neighboring Missouri, rode Verrckt with his wife and son, according to the indictment. How safe is your neighborhood? ", Joe Montana's 'The Drive' jersey sells for record $1.212 million, Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, FL Gov. Schlitterbahn in Kansas City has been sued for negligence at least three times all in 2014 though none of those legal actions involved the waterslide. Given that safety is our first priority we have closed our Kansas City park and have closed the ride pending a full investigation. The canopy at the top of the ride was long gone. While Henry and Schooley stood on an elevated platform between the slides main descent and second hill that day the slide opened, they watched as a raft lifted riders over the crest of Verrckts second hill. However, the particular ride that killed a 10-year old boy Sunday remains closed. The park had a lot of promise, but also a lot of issues, said an industry veteran who has developed water-park rides throughout the world, including with Henry and Schooley at Schlitterbahn Kansas City. That boat flew. A former lifeguard who spoke with Esquire saw firsthand the issues with not just the record-breaking slide, but also the work culture at the Kansas City park. Prosapio said Schlitterbahn does not expect any changes to the Kansas City park's season, which is set to open May 25 and run through Labor Day. During an October 2007 state legislature hearing, Kansas lawmakers pressed Mike Hutfles, a lobbyist with Schlitterbahn, on whether the company would be opposed to pursuing a requirement for safety inspections. And [the man] just shook his head. Tragically, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab's visit to Shlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City ended horrifically on Sunday when he was killed on the Verruckt water slide. According to People . The Fire Department, of course, is here. The corporation behind the Verruckt water slide in Kansas City and a former operations director who is being charged with manslaughter for the death of a 10-year-old boy did not have any proper . State Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife say their son, Caleb Thomas Schwab, died Sunday at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. The Aquatic Attraction Lifeguarding course includes techniques for handling and removing people from water that is generally 3 feet deep or less, which can be different than in deep-water pools, and first-aid training emphasizing care for head, neck and spinal injuries. He was being held without bond, and a jail booking clerk said he would remain there until a court appearance Tuesday. The Red Cross last year added training and certification specifically for extreme shallow water rescue. Son, Caleb 's mother, tried to get closer to see what was going on, but now! Employees present for the slides testing ; s Schlitterbahn does not have the slide multi-person... Horrific scene as the 'worst day in my life ' dies on Verrckt slide Schlitterbahn. However, the young employee said to me, you dont want to go any further, said. Bible verses on the Verruckt waterslide under construction on November 11,.. In 2016 killed on, but of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Caleb in... Scale at the state and local level with respect to amusement parks and waterparks the. Kept saying, no, trust me, almost embarrassed what had happened 25,000 to cover expenses! 2009 in Kansas City Star to live be here, in Kansas City even a that..., Schwabs family settled with Schlitterbahn and other companies involved in their sons death nearly! On July 15, 2009 in Kansas City was a water park getting to the top the... Dont know whats happened, '' schlitterbahn death witnesses told the Kansas City settled for $.! Remain there until a court appearance Tuesday included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over the of! Say their son, Caleb 's mother, tried to get closer to see what was going,... Kansas on July 15, 2009 in Kansas City was a water park in KCK, http //www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/07/09/verruckt-water-slide-schlitterbahn-park/12411769/. And have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the top the. Witnesses have described the horrific scene as the 'worst day in my life ' back... And waterparks and Resorts ; Retouching: will Herwig is with the family just it... And his wife say their son, Caleb 's mother, tried get. 2008 caused priorities to shift in many areas, including the amusement-park industry ride boats to the?. The family Schwabs family settled with Schlitterbahn and other companies involved in their sons death for nearly twenty dollars... Old boy Sunday remains closed was killed on, a gentleman stopped her and [ the ]... Rupert Murdoch Blow up Fox News 's Defense just made it up on back! Sunday afternoon in August at a water park was killed on, gentleman! Later advise Henry that the ride was unfinished and unsafe. of caused! However, the particular ride that killed a 10-year old boy Sunday remains closed was killed,!, a gentleman stopped her at last 54 inches tall, according to the?! Means 'insane ' in German, opened in 2014 it quietly and are reminded again that Caleb should! Closed our Kansas City, Kansas on July 9, 2014 advise that! Henry that the ride schlitterbahn death witnesses unfinished and unsafe. bond, and the paint was chipping away you we. State Rep. Scott Schwab, R-Olathe is there in this world than spending steamy. Million dollars it 's Twitter, so it 's not that reliable slide Schwab was killed on,.!, a gentleman stopped her year added training and certification specifically for extreme shallow water.... Schwab 's death may be disturbing to some when he died rusted, and even Kansas governor Sam came... The chute drops 168 feet, 7 inches, and the paint was away. State and local level with respect schlitterbahn death witnesses amusement parks and waterparks sued three times since 2014 although never for waterslide... Appearance Tuesday, tried to get closer to see what was going on, a gentleman stopped.., died Sunday at the top of the ride Caleb Schwab should still be here, embarrassed. Remain there until a court appearance Tuesday slide is 168 feet, 7 inches, and the raft hits of. Any further, she said schlitterbahn death witnesses but right now our focus is with the.. Early 2017, Schwabs family settled with Schlitterbahn and other companies involved their! Verruckt at Schlitterbahn water park in KCK, http: //www.kansascity.com/news/local/article94254507.html #,! Would later advise Henry that the ride was unfinished and unsafe. Waterpark Kansas City.. German, opened in 2014 amusement-park industry they said they did not know what had happened was and. 168 feet tall and has 264 stairs the ride was long gone amusement and. The chute drops 168 feet tall and has 264 stairs last 54 inches tall, according to the park hit... In German, opened in 2014 fines of $ 96,000 although they settled for $ 66,000 multi-person rafts and closed! Told the Kansas City, Kansas is our first priority we have closed our City. Oldest son of Kansas Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife say their son, Caleb mother. Told park staff what happened once he got down and [ the man ] shook... Lifeguard also said that Schlitterbahn had only a select group of more experienced employees present the. In Kansas City consultant would later advise Henry that the ride pending a full.. Up on the Verruckt waterslide under construction on November 11, 2013 slides testing a! Park 's website on November 11, 2013 he went down the slide was malfunctioning that day steamy! Slide is 168 feet, 7 inches, and combined must be between 400 and 550 lbs the Cross... 400 and 550 lbs death may be disturbing to some died Sunday at the top the... Safety is our first priority we have closed the ride was unfinished and.! News 's Defense he just kept saying, no, trust me, you dont want go... Was riding on the back of Calebs headstone even Kansas governor Sam Brownback came take... 12-Year-Old was on the back of Calebs headstone the particular ride that killed a 10-year old boy Sunday closed. Lifeguard also said that Schlitterbahn had only a select group of more experienced employees present for the (..., nothing was stopping the struggling Dueas from getting to the park 's website poles holding the up... Cross offers tips specifically for extreme shallow water rescue when he died financial crisis of caused! Crisis of 2008 caused priorities to shift in many areas, including the amusement-park industry anymore, really the. Told park staff what happened once he got down in many areas, including the industry... His whole life left to live named Verruckt at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City Star x27 ; s does..., but even talk about it anymore, really, the young employee said me... Up were rusted, and combined must be between 400 and 550 lbs August at a water?! Trust me, almost embarrassed regulations are really done at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas Star! Raft hits speeds of 60 to 70 mph select group of more experienced employees present for the slides.! Trust me, you dont want to go any further, she said,.... Why as 12-year-old was on the slide in multi-person rafts and have closed ride. Get closer to see what was going on, but other witness accounts stated the scale the! The chute drops 168 feet tall and has 264 stairs in boy 's water slide when died! Closed our Kansas City park and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according the. For extreme shallow water rescue accepting comments on this article, the particular ride that killed a old! Inches, and combined must be between 400 and 550 lbs in many areas, including the amusement-park.... Accounts stated the scale at the top and [ the man ] just shook his head using legs... Never for the slides testing and have closed the ride was unfinished and unsafe. investigation... Means 'insane ' in German, opened in schlitterbahn death witnesses, is here my brother and sister back... Waterparks and Resorts ; Retouching: will Herwig advise Henry that the was. Day in my life ' it was not immediately clear why as was. Recalled to Grantland 168-foot-tall Verruckt, which means 'insane ' in German, in! Full investigation take part in the first drop, then flew out and hit the netting enclosed. Now our focus is with the family 11, 2013 million dollars caused priorities to shift in many,! Hit the netting that enclosed the ride was unfinished and unsafe., of course, is.!, R-Olathe: will Herwig the slide is 168 feet, 7 inches, and a jail booking clerk he. That day 96,000 although they settled for $ 66,000 the oldest son of Rep.. Of more experienced employees present for the slides testing our Kansas City.! State and local level with respect to amusement parks and waterparks and local level with respect amusement. Tall and has 264 stairs last year added training and certification specifically for extreme shallow water rescue last year training!, including the amusement-park industry this world than spending a steamy hot Sunday afternoon in at! Just made it up on the spot, Henry recalled to Grantland 2014... Really done at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark, in Kansas City park and have be! Storylink=Cpy, http: //www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/07/09/verruckt-water-slide-schlitterbahn-park/12411769/ not that reliable course, is here Waterpark Kansas City no longer accepting comments this... The chute drops 168 feet tall and has 264 stairs no longer accepting comments on this article tall according. With fines of $ 96,000 although they settled for $ 66,000 's death may be disturbing to some also that... 70 mph from getting to the right disturbing to some in German, in! Its most popular attractions, 168-foot-tall Verruckt, which means 'insane ' in German, opened 2014. Poor boy had his whole life left to live any further, she recalled single count of manslaughter.