The seat from which a 14-year-old boy fell to his death while at Orlando’s ICON Park was in a “down and locked” position, according to an accident report. The accident was caught on video by a bystander.
The report outlining the deadly March 24 crash was one of several documents released by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as part of its investigation into the safety of Orlando FreeFall.
Authorities say Tyre Sampson was visiting from Missouri with a friend’s family when he fell from the ride. He would later die in the hospital from his injuries, according to authorities.
According to the accident report, Sampson fell out of his seat when the magnets in the ride were activated. The FreeFall ride was also reported to be “coming down from the tower” at the time of the accident.
“The harness was still down and locked when the ride stopped,” the report says.
According to the attorney representing Sampson’s family, the teen was 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed more than 300 pounds.
In the Thrill Ride’s Operations and Maintenance Manual, which you must adhere to, the “Maximum Passenger Weight” and size restrictions are described as 130kg, which equates to approximately 287lbs.
The manual also states that “be careful to see if large guests fit in the seats, check that they fit within the contours of the seat and that the support fits correctly. If it does not, do not let this person travel.”
Orlando FreeFall’s last notable inspection occurred in December 2021. Inspection reports show that the attraction met the requirements required by Florida guidelines. The ride was visually inspected in a “non-destructive test”.
The accident report also noted who was working at the time of Sampson’s fatal fall. Training records show that the employee received training on operating procedures, specific duties, general safety procedures, emergency procedures, and all other training requirements listed.
Employee training was completed on February 21, 2022 for the FreeFall attraction, according to the Fair Rides Employee Training Record.
“Words cannot express the pain I feel for the tragic loss of such a young man, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wrote in a statement.
FDACS is working with the sheriff’s office to find out how the tragedy occurred and “precipitate any necessary changes to better protect Florida’s ride users.”
The Orlando FreeFall attraction opened in December 2021 at ICON Park. According to a press release, the thrill ride stands 430 feet tall, “making it the tallest freestanding drop tower in the world.”
The park says the ride seats 30 people. The ride loops around the gigantic tower as you climb to the top. Once riders reach the top, the ride tilts forward 30 degrees and faces the ground for a “brief moment before plummeting nearly 400 feet at speeds in excess of 75 mph.”
The ride will remain closed while authorities continue to investigate. ICON Park is also “demanding” that SlingShot Group suspend operations of the Orlando FreeFall and Orlando SlingShot attraction operating in its park “effective immediately.”
“We remain saddened by the passing of Tyre Sampson and our thoughts are with his family and friends. This was the saddest day in ICON Park history and we are working hard to make sure this never happens again,” ICON Park wrote on a recent statement.
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