A 14-year-old boy who was riding “the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower” in Orlando, Florida, died in a shocking fall from the attraction as witnesses watched in horror on Thursday.
Following the tragic incident, loved ones remembered the boy — Tyre Sampson — as an aspiring athlete, a good student and a caring son. Two lawyers, including nationally-recognized civil rights attorney Ben Crump, announced they would be representing the family.
Deputies received a 911 call and responded to ICON Park shortly after 11 p.m. where witnesses said someone had fallen from the Free Fall ride, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Tyre was transported to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
Several witnesses called 911 to report what they saw: A woman told a dispatcher that Sampson was face down, wasn’t responsive and appeared to have broken his arms and legs. Another man told a 911 dispatcher that the teen had no pulse.
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The investigation into the death is ongoing, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said. But preliminary information indicates “it appears to be a terrible tragedy.” He said the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs is investigating the safety of the ride.
Tyre seemed to slip out of his seat when the ride braked as it approached the bottom of its descent, according to a witness account to a 911 dispatcher. Video suggests that he was propelled from his seat at high speeds as the ride slowed from its descent.
The ride will be closed indefinitely, said John Stine, spokesperson for the Slingshot Group of Companies, which owns and operates the ride. Stine said there have been no other safety issues with the ride since it opened.
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“Needless to say we are devastated,” Stine said. “Our hearts go out this young man’s family, and we are cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and other local agency’s ongoing investigations which I cannot comment on any further at this time.”
ICON park is an entertainment complex in Orlando that includes amusement park rides as well shopping, dining, an aquarium, a Madame Tussauds wax museum and other attractions.
In 2021, a maintenance technician who was not properly hooked up to a safety device plunged 225 feet to his death at a neighboring ride at the park, the 450-foot-tall StarFlyer swing ride.
Sampson was visiting a friend’s family in Florida from his home in Missouri, Mina said at a press conference Friday.
“We can’t imagine what they’re going through,” Mina said. “As a father with boys who go on rides and who frequent amusement parks a lot, you know, it’s just a tragic situation.”
Safety expert expresses concern over seatbelt
The ride opened in ICON Park in center of Orlando’s Entertainment District late last year, according to a January release from the park. Thirty riders at the time can rise to the top, tilt forward and then free fall nearly 400 feet at speeds reaching over 75 mph.
The ride tilting forward increases the importance of a properly functioning harness due to the G-forces riders experience at the bottom, said Ken Martin, a Virginia-based amusement park safety analyst who works with parks, fairs, government entities, insurance companies and attorneys.
Videos and photos of the ride show no secondary safety belt that would secure the over-the-shoulder harness. Martin told USA TODAY that such a belt is a generally a standard part of ride safety in similar attractions.
In a clip published by WESH 2 News, a person riding the drop tower can be heard questioning its restraints before it took off.
Martin said he had reviewed video from the incident and that the added safety belt could have been life-saving. He also said the incident underscores the importance of ride operators properly checking restraints.
“We’re supposed to take them to the edge and bring them back safely,” Martin said. “That’s not life. You’re not supposed to die for no reason.”
Tyre’s father, Yarnell Sampson, told Fox 13 his son was visiting Orlando from St. Louis, Missouri, with his football team. He said the teen was panicking and uncomfortable as the ride began.
“That’s when he started freaking out, and he was explaining to his friend next to him, ‘I don’t know man. If I don’t make it down, please tell my Mom and Daddy I love them.'” his father told the news station. “For him to say something like that, he must have felt something.”
Attorneys Ben Crump, Bob Hilliard to represent family
The teen’s family will be represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Bob Hilliard, the lawyers announced Saturday.
“This family is shocked and heartbroken at the loss of their son,” Crump, who is representing Yarnell Sampson, Tyre’s father, said in a statement. “A fun theme park visit with his football team should not have ended in tragedy,” Crump said in a statement.
Attorney Bob Hilliard, who is representing Tyre’s mother, Nekia Dodd, said in a statement that families should be able to trust theme parks to keep their children safe.
“Every parent who sees this horrific video can’t help but think the same thing, ‘That could have been my child,'” he said.
The attorneys said they urge any witnesses to contact them.
Loved ones remember Tyre as kindhearted, honors student
Crump said in a Saturday statement that Tyre was a star 8th grade football player and A student.
“This young man was the kind of son every parent hopes for – an honor roll student, an aspiring athlete, and a kind-hearted person who cared about others,” the statement said.
His father told CNN that Tyre was an honor roll student who dreamed of becoming a football player. He described the teen as a “kindhearted kid” and a “a big teddy bear, a gentle giant.”
“I want to know what really happened…why a 14-year-old young man with a bright future has been taken away from us,” he told CNN.
Arnaud Jones, Tyre’s former football coach, told local news station KSDK that the teen was “mild-mannered, light spoken.”
“He would respect and take in what I’m giving him, and I knew he had a bright future because he was just a great kid,” Jones said.
In an interview with NBC News, Carl Sampson, Tyre’s uncle, said Tyre was respectful and intelligent.
“It is hard to believe,” he said. “He was just 14 years old. It was very tragic that it happened. He was too young.”
Contact Breaking News Reporter N’dea Yancey-Bragg at nyanceybra@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @NdeaYanceyBragg. Contributing: Mike Davis and Alex N. Gecan, Asbury Park Press; The Associated Press
