Caleb Schwab
Caleb Schwab is the 10-year-old Kansas native who sadly died over the weekend while at Kansas City’s Schlitterbahn water park.
What was supposed to be a fun time and memory making weekend turned into a tragedy when Caleb Schwab was killed on Sunday. Schlitterbahn water park and resort is home for the world’s tallest water slide. According to reports, Caleb Schwab died while on the 168-foot-tall Verrückt water slide.
The Verrückt (German for “crazy” or “insane”) was named the world’s tallest water slide by Guinness World Records in 2014. Riders, required to be at least 54 inches tall to go down the slide.
The two to three riders –who are sent down the slide on a raft down a “jaw-dropping” 168 foot high, 7 foot wide structure -must have a combined weight between 400 and 550 pounds and must be at least 54 inches tall, according to the park.
Caleb Schwab, was the son of Kansas Rep. Scott Schwab. Caleb had been at the park with his father for elected officials day where lawmakers and their families receive free admission and lunch for the day, CNN reports.
Caleb Thomas Schwab was born to Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele Schwab, of Olathe. Caleb is also survived by three brothers: Nathan, Alex and Isaac.
Reports say Caleb was riding with one of his brothers while the accident took place. His older brother saw the tragic incident unfold and allegedly alerted their mother who was at another ride.
According to witnesses who told KSHB-TV, they saw the boy fly into the air after the first steep drop, causing him to hit netting.
The family issued a statement about Caleb –who was a freckled baseball and soccer enthusiast:
‘Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those who he came in contact with.’
Caleb’s dad was first elected to the Kansas house in 2003. Scott Schwab, has represented Kansas’s 49th district since 2008, according to the legislature’s website. He holds a BA, Communication, General, from Fort Hayes State University.
Scott Schwab is a member of the Health and Human Services committee, Rules and Journal Committee, Telecommunications Study Committee and the Utilities and Communications Committee. He previously worked as a Regional Sales Manager for Optimal/Optimal Care and was the Executive Vice President at CompDME.
Police are working with the park to investigate the cause of the accident.
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