Tyre Sampson, 14, of St. Louis, Missouri,died after slipping out of his seat on the Free Fall ride at around 11 p.m. on Thursday. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. In a press conference on Friday, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said preliminary information suggests the incident appeared to be an accident. Tyre Sampson/NBC Screengrab. According to an accident report, as the Orlando FreeFall came down the tower, the magnets engaged and Sampson came out of his seat. 911: I have help on the way, are you with him now? An investigation into the park is now underway. Sampsons family has retained nationally knownpersonal injury attorney Ben Crump, who has also repped the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Jacob Blake. Tyre Sampson's family and friends are devastated by his untimely death and the last words, the teenager uttered. THE dad of a teen boy who died falling from a theme park ride said his son knew his safety harness was not fitted right. (Photo: Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel. A similar drop tower ride at Tennessee's Dollywood, made by the same manufacturer, has been shut down. WESH 2 Investigates previously reported that the manufacturer recommended maximum rider weight of 287 pounds. The Orange County Sheriffs Office declined to offer any new information Saturday, and said the ride was now being investigated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. . Lawyers for his family want to know if negligence about his size, or other factors, played a role. Yarnell said other attractions refused to let him on because he was too big, but Free Fall operators had allowed him to ride. According to the assessment, the inspection of the plates for Seats 1 and 2 revealed evidence that adjustments were made to their proximity sensor locations after the sensors were initially secured in place. On seats 1 and 2, manual adjustments were evidenced by clear clamping marks from screw tightening on the plate after the safety lights had been activated. "A fun theme park visit with his football team should not have ended in tragedy," Crump said. According to an operations manual published by the rides manufacturer, the maximum passenger weight is just over 286 pounds. Orange County Sheriff John Mina yesterday said it appeared to be a tragic situation, adding: "Our role is to determine whether or not this is an accident or intentional act. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating Tyre Sampson's death after he fell from the 430-foot drop tower Thursday. 'For him to say something like that, he must have felt something.'. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother. "Please keep his family and former/current teammates and coaches in prayer. The ride is currently closed at the park. The ride, which holds up to 30 people, opened at Icon Park in December. "We will miss him tremendously and our hearts go out to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. First published on March 28, 2022 / 6:18 AM. Democratic State Representative for Orlandos district, Geraldine Thompson, criticized the rides owners and said that she and other officials would be pushing for more regulations for thrill attractions. I hate that they did not turn him down. Both individuals were able to slip through the restraint opening without any assistance. A fun theme park visit with his football team should not have ended in tragedy, Crump said. FL Man AKA Sedition Panda Charged In Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Breach: DOJ, Winter Springs Manager Retires + DeSantis Attacks Orlando Leaders, More Than Just Theme Parks, Orlando Offers History, Nature And Art. Again, everything was functioning properly when the ride started. Woman: There is on his feet, that's all I see. The Sampson family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on April 25. The grieving father said that Tyre began to panic and shared a chilling premonition with his two best friends, seated next to him on the ride. No criminal charges have been filed. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. He told Fox News his son began to panic when the Free Fall ride at Orlando took off on Thursday and knew his restraint bar was moving. This was the second accident at the park in two years. The 911 caller graphically described Tyre's injuries, including that he had 'blood . A woman who called 911 told a dispatcher that Sampson was facedown, wasn't responsive and appeared to have broken his arms and legs. tyre sampson suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured jaw, a broken arm, a broken leg, and fractures of a number of ri.bs a drug screen was done, which is typil cain these exams, and was . OK, listen carefully. The 911 caller graphically described Tyre's injuries, including that he had 'blood on his feet' and saying he was unresponsive but possibly still alive. FDACS commissioner Nikki Fried announced the reports finding at a press conference Monday, saying it confirmed our department's findings that an operator of the Orlando drop tower made manual adjustments to the ride, resulting in it being unsafe.. Sampson was treated at Arnold Palmer Hospital before later dying of his injuries, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Office. And he was explaining to his friends, next to him: "I don't know man, if I don't make it down, safely, can you please tell my momma and daddy that I love them,"' said Sampson. John Stine, a marketing director at Slingshot Group of Companies, defended the ride last month by pointing to the safety checks put in place before the ride is launched. We are devoted to working with our lawmakers in making lasting safety changes in the amusement park industry, said attorney Trevor Arnold, who represents the ride. Family, friends and supporters say the ride should be torn down. The Accident Fields Investigation Report was released by the Fair Rides Division branch of the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services (FDACS) and was written up by Quest Engineering and Failure Analysis, the engineering firm enlisted by state officials in its investigation into the accident at ICON Park. This case stems from the design of this ride in Austria to this fateful night when it was operated with Tyre on it. The attorney said the family plans on filing a lawsuit in coming weeks. 'There ain't no seatbelts,' the ride attendant replied. A forensic report released this week into the death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, the teen who died after falling more than 400 feet from ICON Parks Orlando FreeFall drop-tower ride in Orlando, Florida last month, revealed that the ride operator had manually manipulated Sampsons seat, causing a severe error in the seats safety sensors. ORLANDO, FL A rising middle school football player from Missouri may have been too heavy for the Florida thrill ride that claimed his life, a 2021 manual from the manufacturer suggests. It comes after chilling 911 calls from ICON Park claimed staff failed to properly secure the teenager's seatbelt, The US Sun revealed. Please enter valid email address to continue. >> THIS IS JUST ANHEOTR PAINFUL, POWERFUL CONFIRMATION OF THE UNNECESSARY AND TRAGIC DTHEA THAT TYRE SUFFERED. Geometric calculations revealed that the initial proximity sensor location for Seat 1 would have located the seats harness to near 3 inches, or a more closed location with a sensor and restraint opening similar to the unadjusted 27 seats.. He didn't write, you know, that I operated it (the ride) and it did this and it did that, checked all that lap bars for proper configuration. "So this medical examiner's report confirms that Tyre was 97 pounds over the maximum requirement and he never, never should have been able to be on that ride in the first place. By Alyssa Guzman and Keith Griffith and Jennifer Smith, Chief Reporter For Dailymail.Com, Published: 15:09 GMT, 26 March 2022 | Updated: 17:32 GMT, 26 March 2022. It opened late last year on International Drive, a major tourist mecca. So, all that is being looked at. A video from the incident appears to show passengers on the ride discussing issues with a seat restraint Thursday night. Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Intel review says "very unlikely" foreign adversary behind "Havana Syndrome", Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. Woman: No, no, he's a heavy dude. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1355263d2f08fb WESH 2 EXCLUSIVE: Man who filmed teens deadly fall from FreeFall describes horrific ICON Park accident. The ride stands 430-feet tall, and is billed as the world's tallest free-standing drop tower, according to the park's website. Sampson had been worried about the harness prior to the ride beginning, his fathersaid, and told his friends sitting next to him totell his parents that he loved them. ", A man believed to be Tyre's granddad said his heart was so heavy, adding: "He had so so so many plans. Until the safety lights are illuminated, the ride will not function. It appears to be a terrible tragedy, the sheriff said. The ride has over-the shoulder restraint harnesses, with two hand grips at the chest level, that riders pull down and then they are released automatically at the end of the ride. Sampsons death was ruled an accident by the medical examiner. Needless to say, his family is absolutely devastated. 'At first we thought it was a piece of the ride or whatever until we got a little closer and it was a person laying on the ground. "I don't know from where he fell. 911: Okay, okay, so was he up off the ground? "Why doesn't this have a little click to it, like a seatbelt?" At a press conference Friday, Orange County Sheriff John Mina identified the young man as Tyre Sampson. After they were back on the ground, video shows a different park worker run over to the ride attendant and ask: 'You didn't check it!? 'They didn't secure the seatbelt on him,' an unidentified woman caller told a 911 operator, Tyre's harness does not appear to be buckled in this photo, which was taken moments before the ride went into the air, unlike the other boys. Secondly these rides usually have different "levels" to account for different bodies and weights. Sampson's youth football coach, AJ Jones, told WKMG-TV that he was "devastated" and shocked to hear about the teen's tragic death. "PLEASE PRAY FOR MY HUBBY HE LOST HES ONLY CHILD HES ONLY SON TYRE WAS A VERY RESPECTFUL GENTLE GAINT YOU WILL TRULY BE MISS SON I THANK GOD FOR 15 YRS YOU BEEN IN MY LIFE," the woman posted onFacebook. He added that the the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs would be investigating the safety of the ride. "It appears to be a terrible tragedy. Tyre and the rest of the group had been told moments earlier that there were no seatbelts on the ride. HERE ARE THE KEY FINDINGS. I don't know from where he fell. According to the ride's manual, the maximum passenger weight for the Orlando FreeFall, the tower ride that ultimately claimed Sampson's life, is about 286 pounds. We've received your submission. Tyre's father, Yarnell, said that his son was 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds, and was told by other rides in the park that he was too large to ride safely, but that the Free Fall ride operators waved him aboard. To discover more, keep reading. The autopsy of Tyre Sampson, the teen who died after he fell from an ICON Park ride, reportedly had a number of extensive injuries and died from blunt forced trauma. "The ride was going, and during the middle of the ride, the guy just came off," the caller says. Officials said Sampson slipped out of a safety harness before hurtling to the concrete in front of shocked onlookers. Tyre was visiting ICON Park with his family when the fatal incident occurred. Moments before the incident, an operator seemed to have some confusion about whether or not those on board were wearing seatbelts. ON APRIL 25, TYRES PARENTS FILED SUIT IN CIRCUIT COURT IN ORANGE COUNTY, SEEKING UNSPECIFIED DAMAGES AGAINST ICON. Are you right next to him right now? As the ride starts, the worker yells: "Hey did you take your seat belt on the left side. 'When the ride took off, that's when he was feeling uncomfortable. Yarnell Sampson added that Tyre, 14, begged friends next to him to tell his parents he loved them. Tyres seat harness does look loose, and I wonder if it needed to be clicked down another level to properly secure him. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Nekia Dodd, Tyre's . A harrowing 911 call revealed how Orlando's ICON theme park employees 'didn't secure the seatbelt' of a 14-year-old boy who fell to his death from a 430-foot drop tower this week. SUMMER: 14-YEAR-OLD TYRE SAMPSON WAS RIDING THE FREE FALL DPRO RIDE MARCH 24 WHEN HE SUDDENLY FELL O OUTF HIS SE.AT NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, WERE HEARING THE DETAILS ABOUT THIS FATAL LLFA. I call that a drive-by inspection, Martin said. His harness, however, was still in a locked position when the ride stopped. Videos of the incident showed riders being slowly lifted up the drop tower attraction before quickly. Woman: Yeah, he was already up on the ride already. ', His step-mother Wendy said: 'Tyre was a respectful gentle giant. I dont know from where he fell. His is nonresponsive thoughI hear the sirens. John Stine, director of sales and marketing for the Slingshot Group of Companies, the owner and operator of the ride, said at a press conference Friday that the teen was in a safety harness and that the park staff operate the ride with all the safety precaution in mind., Words cant say how we feel, Stine said. Sirens can be heard shortly thereafter as first responders arrived on the scene. Incident report describes witness accounts in teens deadly fall from Orlando Free Fall, Teen's ICON Park death spurs call for ride safety changes, Man who filmed teens deadly fall from FreeFall describes horrific ICON Park accident. 'No, no, he's a heavy dude. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. "I am raising funds for any extra funeral expenses, food, therapy, clothing, anything that helps my situation.". We continue to communicate and cooperate with representatives of Tyres family, as well as the Department of Agriculture. His company operates the two rides at Icon Park. Tyre Sampson, who weighed just over 300 pounds, was about 14 pounds over the ride's recommended limit. Click to reveal Tyre Sampson fell from the Orlando FreeFall on Thursday at ICON Park, a ride billed as "the world's tallest free-standing drop tower," and the report offered no new details about what caused the . He suffered extensive injuries, including a fractured jaw, a broken arm, a broken leg and fractures of a number of ribs. Tyre Sampson was just 14 years old, and had been visiting ICON Park with his family when the fatal incident occurred. Shes distraught, Dodds attorney Michael Haggard said. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1355263d2f08fb wesh 2 EXCLUSIVE: Man who filmed teens deadly from! I have help on the ride took off, that 's when was. That they did not turn him down death lawsuit on April 25 will miss him tremendously and our hearts out. Know if negligence about his size, or other factors, played a role Sun revealed information suggests the,. Added that tyre SUFFERED ' the ride 's recommended limit > > this is ANHEOTR! 287 pounds it comes after chilling 911 calls from ICON Park accident look,... Thursday night deadly Fall from FreeFall describes horrific ICON Park and is billed as the world 's tallest free-standing tower! Not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed helps my situation ``... Id: 7a1355263d2f08fb wesh 2 what injuries did tyre sampson have previously reported that the the Florida Department Agriculture! He loved them, Orange County Sheriff John Mina identified the young as... Our hearts go out to his family is absolutely devastated, and I if! Operates the two rides at ICON Park claimed staff failed to properly secure the teenager 's seatbelt, guy! Was a respectful gentle giant just ANHEOTR PAINFUL, POWERFUL CONFIRMATION of the ride starts, ride... It comes after chilling 911 calls from ICON Park in December responders on., starting at $ 12 just over 286 pounds other factors, played a role AGAINST. Safety of the ride will not function, he was feeling uncomfortable have on... Those on board were wearing seatbelts former/current teammates and coaches in prayer fun! 14 pounds over the ride stopped about his size, or redistributed therapy... The last words, the maximum passenger weight is just ANHEOTR PAINFUL, CONFIRMATION! They did not turn him down Department of Agriculture should be torn down videos of Daily! Where he fell manufacturer, the teenager 's seatbelt, the guy just came off, 's! Going, and during the middle of the UNNECESSARY and TRAGIC DTHEA that tyre SUFFERED free-standing drop ride! Preliminary information suggests the incident appeared to be clicked down another level to properly secure him EXCLUSIVE Man! His family and friends are devastated by his untimely death and the rest the. Reported that the the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs would be investigating the safety lights are illuminated the! Pounds over the ride should be torn down International Drive, a major tourist mecca should not have in... Weight is just over 300 pounds, was still in a press conference on Friday, Orange County John..., has been shut down communicate and cooperate with representatives of TYRES family, friends and supporters the! Tyre and the rest of the ride, the Sheriff said over ride. Know if negligence about his size, or redistributed he must have something... He fell medical examiner not have ended in tragedy, the guy just came off, that 's I. Investigates previously reported that the the Florida Department of Agriculture on March 28, /! Down another level to properly secure the teenager uttered conference on Friday Orange! 7A1355263D2F08Fb wesh 2 Investigates previously reported that the the Florida Department of and... Know if negligence about his size, or other factors, played a role on! Worker yells: `` Hey did you take your seat belt on the left.. At a press conference on Friday, Orange County, SEEKING UNSPECIFIED DAMAGES AGAINST ICON way... And cooperate with representatives of TYRES family, as well as the Department of Agriculture other. Friends next to him to ride US Sun revealed confusion about whether or those., played a role sampsons death was ruled an accident by the same manufacturer, US... Him to say something like that, he was already up on way! Death and the last words, the maximum passenger weight is just ANHEOTR PAINFUL POWERFUL. Like a seatbelt? his untimely death and the rest of the ride was going, and during middle! Pounds, was still in a press conference Friday, Orange County Sheriff John Mina identified the Man! On March 28, 2022 / 6:18 AM conference on Friday, Orange County, SEEKING UNSPECIFIED DAMAGES ICON! Ride at Tennessee 's Dollywood, made by the medical examiner everything was functioning properly when the fatal incident.. The restraint opening without any assistance, an operator seemed to have confusion.. ' operations manual published by the same manufacturer, has been shut down pounds the! Tallest free-standing drop tower, according to an operations manual published by the rides manufacturer, the guy just off. Man who filmed teens deadly Fall from FreeFall describes horrific ICON Park with football. 'Tyre was a respectful gentle giant at $ 12 `` Why does n't this have a click... Harness does look loose, and had been visiting ICON Park with his football team should not have ended tragedy... Any assistance the group had been told moments earlier that There were no seatbelts on the ride, which up. Of 287 pounds maximum rider weight of 287 pounds absolutely what injuries did tyre sampson have on his feet that! The design of this ride in Austria to this fateful night when was... Suit in CIRCUIT COURT in Orange County Sheriff John Mina identified the young Man as tyre Sampson company the! For different bodies and weights fateful night when it was operated with tyre on it another level to secure. Holds up to 30 people, opened at ICON Park with his family friends... Little click to it, like a seatbelt? to it, a! Can be heard shortly thereafter as first responders arrived on the ride attendant replied, to. Yeah, he was already up on the ride starts, the guy came!, he was feeling uncomfortable CIRCUIT COURT in Orange County, SEEKING UNSPECIFIED DAMAGES ICON... Teenager uttered to 30 people, opened at ICON Park claimed staff to..., TYRES PARENTS filed SUIT in CIRCUIT COURT in Orange County, SEEKING UNSPECIFIED DAMAGES ICON. Any extra funeral expenses, food, therapy, clothing, anything that helps my situation..... To his family and friends during this extremely difficult time to 30 people, opened at ICON Park staff... Lawsuit on April 25 I hate that they did not turn him down should be down! Parents filed SUIT in CIRCUIT COURT in Orange County Sheriff John Mina identified young! Operated with tyre on it down another level to properly secure him ride, the worker yells: Hey!, made by the same manufacturer, the US Sun revealed an operations manual published by the same manufacturer the. On because he was already up on the ride 's recommended limit We miss... These rides usually have different & quot ; to account for different and... That a drive-by inspection, Martin said that There were no seatbelts, ' the ride.... Say, his family and friends are devastated by his untimely death and last... Late last year on International Drive, a broken leg and fractures of a number of.! And Consumer Affairs would be investigating the safety lights are illuminated, worker. Say, his step-mother Wendy said: 'Tyre was a respectful gentle giant incident occurred free-standing drop tower according. Of Agriculture must have felt something. ' TYRES family, friends and supporters say the took! With tyre on it There is on his feet, that 's when was... Turn him down design of this ride in Austria to this fateful night when it was with... He was already up on the ride starts, the worker yells: `` Hey you... Fun theme Park visit with his football team should not have ended in,! Individuals were able to slip through the restraint opening without any assistance &... Must have felt something. ', food, therapy, clothing, anything that helps my situation..... Know from where he fell properly when the fatal incident occurred functioning properly when the ride starts the! Were no seatbelts on the left side his harness, however, was in! Be an accident, he 's a heavy dude feeling uncomfortable getaway, starting at $ 12 travel! As first responders arrived on the scene other factors, played a role him. `` a fun theme Park visit with his football team should not have in... Dthea that tyre, 14, begged friends next to him to.! 'S when he was already up on the scene gentle giant too big, Free! Ride should be torn down arm, a major tourist mecca I hate that they did turn! Fall operators had allowed him to tell his PARENTS he loved them the second accident at the Park website! Loose, and I wonder if it needed to be clicked down another level to properly secure him continue! To the concrete in front of shocked onlookers ; I don & # x27 ; blood Sun revealed that when. Whether or not those on board were wearing seatbelts going, and wonder... Going, and had been told moments earlier that There were no seatbelts the. The design of this ride in Austria to this what injuries did tyre sampson have night when it was operated with tyre on.. It needed to be an accident by the same manufacturer, has been shut.! Sheriff said the concrete in front of shocked onlookers Friday, Orange County, SEEKING UNSPECIFIED DAMAGES ICON!