InfoSearched
Published -
- August 13, 2019
- 5:41 pm
At nearly 169 feet tall, Verrückt was taller than Niagara Falls.
Riders flew down the world’s tallest water slide at 70 miles per hour, challenging the laws of physics. Then, on August 7, 2016, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab was decapitated on the ride. What went wrong to cause such a horrific tragedy?
What were the design flaws of the Verrückt water slide?
The world’s tallest water slide, the Verrückt, was initially marketed as an exciting and thrilling attraction for tourists seeking fun and adventure at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. Sadly, the ride turned into a disaster when its design flaws resulted in the death of a young boy.
The Verrückt was a 168-feet tall slide, which attracted thrill-seekers from all over the world when it opened in 2014. The ride was designed with a steep drop, which left riders hurtling down at breakneck speeds. However, it became clear that the Verrückt was not the safe and thrilling ride that people had expected.
On August 7, 2016, a tragedy occurred when a 10-year-old boy, Caleb Schwab, suffered a fatal injury while riding the Verrückt. Caleb, who had been on the ride with two other women, was found dead at the bottom of the slide. The incident sent shockwaves around the world and led to an investigation into the safety of the ride.
The investigation revealed that the Verrückt had design flaws that made it unsafe. The ride’s rafts had been too light, leading to riders being ejected from the slide at high speeds. Furthermore, a netting system that was meant to catch riders in case they were ejected from the raft was not properly designed, and it failed to prevent Caleb from falling to his death.
The Schlitterbahn Waterpark was fined $20,000 for Caleb’s death, and the Verrückt was dismantled in November 2018. The tragic accident highlights the danger of disregarding safety in the pursuit of innovation and excitement. The design of the Verrückt was a terrible, tragic idea that should never have come to fruition.
In conclusion, the Verrückt was an ambitious and creative idea that ultimately failed at the expense of a young boy’s life. The water slide’s design flaws were a recipe for disaster, and the tragedy serves as a cautionary tale for adventurous attractions everywhere. It is essential to prioritize safety when designing and operating such rides so that incidents like Caleb’s death can be avoided.
