Police: Kansas Boy Died of Neck Injury on Waterslide

Police: Kansas Boy Died of Neck Injury on Waterslide
This June 2016 photo provided by David Strickland shows Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Scott Schwab, a Kansas state lawmaker from Olathe. (David Strickland via AP)
8/9/2016
Updated:
8/9/2016

Police revealed on Aug. 8 that the 10-year-old son of a Kansas state legislator died of a neck injury while riding the world’s tallest waterslide.

Caleb Schwab, the son of Rep. Scott Schwab died on Aug. 7 at Schlitterbahn Waterpark on the Verrückt waterslide. 

According to Kansas City Police, responding emergency personnel found Caleb “dead from a fatal neck injury at the end of the ride, in the pool.” The young boy was one of three passengers strapped in a raft. The other riders—two women unrelated to the Schwabs—were treated for minor facial injuries.

The Schwabs released a statement following their son’s death.

“Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with,” read the statement. “As we try to mend our home with him no longer with us, we are comforted knowing he believed in our Savior Jesus, and they are forever together now. We will see him another day.”

The tragic incident occurred on elected officials day Sunday, a day on which elected officials and their families were given free admission to the water park and lunch.  

Verrückt is currently  closed as the incident is still under investigation.