The pastor of the Schwab family, whose 10-year-old son Caleb was killed in an accident on a water slide on Sunday, has spoken of the pain his death has caused.
Clint Sprague, pastor of Life Mission Church, said in a news conference yesterday evening: "This has been devastating at every level. You know, you leave church, you go to a water park to be with family, and to enjoy. Then you hit tragedy. There's just no way to prepare for this."
More details have emerged about the death of Caleb, the son of Kansas Congressman Scott Schwab.
Caleb was one of three passengers on a raft on the Verrückt slide, billed as the world's tallest. He was at the Schlitterbahn amusement park with his father, mother Michele and three brothers. He was riding the raft with two adult women, one of whom suffered a broken jaw and the other a broken bone in her face. Caleb died of a neck injury at the end of the ride.
Sprague said the family had been to church on Sunday morning and heard it was 'Elected Officials Day' at the Schlitterbahn park. He said Michele and Scott Scwab were relying on their faith to get through this difficult time.
"Caleb was an incredible young man," Sprague said. "10-years-old, full of life, loved baseball, basketball, soccer. He was always doing something."
He added that although Caleb was just 10 years old, he considered him a "man of God".
"He's going to be missed for his energy, for his life, for his smile, for the way he lit up a room" Sprague said.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.
