Jordan Ellis
Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old boy, died after falling from the Orlando Free Fall ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida. Tyre fell from the 430-foot drop tower ride and was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. An autopsy report concluded that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. Tyre's death has sparked outrage and led to safety reforms in Florida's amusement park industry, with the introduction of the Tyre Sampson Act to strengthen safety standards for theme park rides. While the specifics of his death are still under investigation, initial reports suggest that Tyre may not have been properly secured in his seat, prompting a lawsuit filed by his family alleging negligence by several companies associated with the ride.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age | 14 |
| Height | 6 feet |
| Weight | 383 pounds |
| Weight limit of the ride | 287 pounds |
| Cause of death | Blunt force trauma |
| Location of death | Hospital |
| Location of incident | ICON Park, Orlando |
| Ride | Orlando Free Fall |
| Height of fall | 30m (98ft) |
| Safety equipment missing | Seat belts |
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What You'll Learn
- Tyre Sampson fell from a 430-foot ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida
- The 14-year-old was not properly secured in his seat and slipped through the gap
- Sampson's death was ruled an accident; he died from blunt force trauma
- The ride manufacturer has been ordered to pay $310 million to Sampson's family
- Sampson's death has prompted safety reforms and strengthened standards for theme park rides in Florida
Tyre Sampson fell from a 430-foot ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida
On March 24, 2022, 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall drop tower ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida. The ride has been described as the world's tallest freestanding drop tower, standing at 430 feet. Tyre was visiting the park from St. Louis, Missouri, and was on spring break with his football team.
Footage of the incident shows Tyre slipping from his seat just seconds after the ride began its nearly 400-foot drop. The ride had no seat belts, and a harness sensor in Tyre's seat had been manually loosened, adjusted, and tightened, allowing for a greater gap than normal between his harness and the seat. This "mis-adjustment" caused both safety lights to illuminate, indicating that the ride was safe to commence even though it was not.
The owner's manual for the tower listed the ride's weight limit as 285-287 pounds, while Tyre was just over 6 feet tall and weighed 383 pounds, according to the autopsy report. Tyre's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging negligence by several companies linked to the attraction, including ICON Park, The Slingshot Group, and the ride manufacturers. The lawsuit claimed that the ride was unsafe and did not have proper signage posted about weight and height requirements or potential dangers.
In December 2024, a Florida jury awarded Tyre's family $310 million. The jury's decision confirmed the lawyers' arguments that Tyre's death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits. Tyre's mother, who was present when the ride was dismantled, created a foundation in her son's honor, focusing on school and scholarships. She said that Tyre was a "giver," and she wanted to follow in his footsteps.
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The 14-year-old was not properly secured in his seat and slipped through the gap
Tyre Sampson, 14, died after falling from the Orlando Free Fall ride at ICON Park in Florida. The 430-foot drop tower ride was operated by the Slingshot Group. Tyre fell 30 metres (98 feet) from the ride, which had no seat belts.
An investigation by a forensic engineering firm found that a harness sensor in Tyre's seat had been manually loosened, adjusted, and tightened, allowing for a greater gap than normal between his harness and his seat. This "mis-adjustment" of the "harness proximity sensor" caused the ride's electronic safety mechanisms to be improperly satisfied, allowing the ride to commence even though it was unsafe.
The state's Bureau of Fair Rides report concluded that the cause of the accident was that Tyre was not properly secured in his seat and slipped through the gap between the seat and the harness. The report also noted that ride attendants were not instructed on weight requirements or proper loading procedures. The attendant on duty that day was a trainee and had only been on the job for three days.
Tyre's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging negligence by several companies linked to the attraction. The lawsuit claimed that the ride was unsafe and lacked proper signage about weight and height requirements. Following Tyre's death, Florida strengthened safety standards for theme park rides, including mandatory seat belts and harnesses for rides taller than 100 feet (30 metres).
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Sampson's death was ruled an accident; he died from blunt force trauma
Tyre Sampson, 14, died after falling from the Orlando Free Fall ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida. Tyre fell from the 430-foot drop tower ride, which was operated by the Slingshot Group. An autopsy report confirmed that Sampson died from blunt force trauma.
The cause of the accident was that Sampson was not properly secured in his seat. A harness sensor in Sampson's seat had been "manually loosened, adjusted, and tightened," according to an investigation by Quest Engineering & Failure Analysis Inc. This allowed for a larger-than-normal gap between Sampson's harness and his seat. This "mis-adjustment" caused the ride's safety mechanisms to be improperly satisfied, allowing the ride to commence even though it was unsafe.
Attendants were not instructed on weight requirements or proper loading procedures. The attendant on duty had only been working there for three days and was considered a "trainee." During the ride, Sampson slipped through the gap between the seat and the harness.
Following the tragedy, Sampson's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging negligence by several companies linked to the attraction. A Florida jury ordered an amusement ride manufacturer to pay $310 million to the family, agreeing that the boy's death was a result of safety failures and negligence.
Tyre Sampson's death was indeed ruled an accident, and he died from blunt force trauma.
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The ride manufacturer has been ordered to pay $310 million to Sampson's family
Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old boy, died after falling from the Orlando FreeFall ride at ICON Park in March 2022. An autopsy report revealed that Tyre succumbed to blunt force trauma. The ride, which opened less than four months before the incident, was the world's tallest free-standing drop tower, standing at 430 feet. It allowed riders to plummet from a height of over 400 feet at speeds of up to 75 mph.
Following the tragedy, Sampson's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging negligence by several companies linked to the attraction. The lawsuit highlighted glaring safety oversights, including the absence of seat belts and signage about weight and height requirements. The ride manufacturer, Funtimes (or Funtime Handels GmbH), an Austrian company, was specifically targeted in the lawsuit. The jury ruled in favour of Sampson's family, ordering Funtimes to pay $310 million in damages. The jury's decision affirmed the family's argument that Tyre's death resulted from blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety.
The Sampson family's legal team noted that collecting the judgment would not be immediate. They would need to file a lawsuit in Austria, where Funtimes is based, to ensure payment. While the family expressed satisfaction with the verdict, they emphasized that their fight for stricter ride safety standards was not over. They advocated for provisions requiring seatbelts and nationwide ride safety standards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The incident had far-reaching consequences for amusement park safety. The Tyre Sampson Safety Act was passed in Florida, mandating critical safety upgrades and more stringent inspection requirements for amusement rides. This legislation was a direct response to investigators' findings that changes made to the ride after its initial inspection contributed to Tyre's death. The act includes requirements for seat belts, harnesses for rides exceeding 100 feet, and regular inspections by independent agencies.
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Sampson's death has prompted safety reforms and strengthened standards for theme park rides in Florida
Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old visiting an amusement park in Orlando, Florida, fell to his death from a 430-foot drop tower ride. An autopsy report revealed that Tyre died from blunt force trauma. The cause of the accident was that Tyre was not properly secured in his seat; he slipped through the gap between the seat and harness. It was found that a harness sensor in Tyre's seat had been manually loosened, allowing for a greater gap than normal between his harness and his seat.
Following Tyre Sampson's death, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in April 2022, alleging negligence by several companies linked to the attraction. The lawsuit claimed that there were no posted weight limits or scales at the ride site, and that the ride was not safe. In response to the tragedy, Florida officials hired a forensic engineering firm to investigate the incident.
The death of Tyre Sampson has prompted safety reforms and strengthened standards for theme park rides in Florida. Florida lawmakers have introduced and passed the 'Tyre Sampson Act' to improve ride safety and better regulate theme park rides in the state. The Act strengthens safety standards for theme park rides, including mandatory seat belts and harnesses for rides taller than 100 feet (30m). The bill also adds further testing and verification requirements, updates rules for reporting accidents and injuries, and sets training standards for staff.
The introduction and passage of the 'Tyre Sampson Act' demonstrate a commitment to enhancing safety measures and preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future. Tyre Sampson's death has brought about significant changes that aim to protect the well-being of theme park visitors in Florida.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Tyre Sampson died at a hospital from injuries sustained from falling off an amusement ride.
Tyre Sampson was 14 years old.
Tyre Sampson died from blunt force trauma.
Tyre Sampson was on the Orlando Free Fall ride, a 430-foot drop tower at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida.
Tyre Sampson fell from the ride due to a mis-adjustment of his harness, which caused him to not be properly secured in his seat.
