The 2016 death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab on the Verrückt water slide was caused by a fatal neck injury sustained when the raft went airborne and struck a supporting metal brace. Autopsy and investigative findings revealed a design that violated industry standards, resulting in a $20 million settlement and the permanent closure of the ride. For more details, read the full report at The Kansas City Star . Schlitterbahn's Tragic Slide - Texas Monthly
: The two women riding in the raft with Caleb suffered serious facial injuries, including a broken jaw and a broken bone in the face. Caleb Schwab: What We Know About the Water Slide Death caleb schwab autopsy report exclusive
: On August 7, 2016, the raft Caleb was riding went airborne at the crest of the slide's second hump, causing him to collide with the overhead metal hoops and netting designed to keep riders from falling off. Spectrum News Safety Failures and Equipment Findings The 2016 death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab on
According to the report, obtained exclusively by The Pulse Times , Schwab died from acute aortic dissection —a rare and often fatal tear in the inner layer of the aorta. Compounding the issue, toxicology results revealed dangerously elevated stress hormone levels and traces of stimulant use, including modafinil (prescribed for insomnia) and unspecified recreational amphetamines. Schlitterbahn's Tragic Slide - Texas Monthly : The
The report details Schwab’s grueling schedule in the weeks before his death: nonstop promotion tours, reported sleep deprivation, and a public social media post weeks earlier lamenting “collapsing under invisible weight.” Friends close to the artist told investigators he had been in secret counseling for anxiety and had avoided discussing health concerns, reportedly fearing it would derail his career.