After the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy who fell to his death while on an amusement park ride, new details have been released about the investigation.
Tyre Sampson was visiting Florida from Missouri last week and went to ICON Park in Orlando. He got on the FreeFall ride around 11 p.m, according to People.
Sampson “came out” of his seat as the ride’s “magnets engaged,” dropping from 430 feet, according to an accident report released by the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The report also mentioned that Sampson’s “harness was still in a down and locked position when the ride stopped.”
His death was a result of “multiple injuries and trauma,” according to the report.
Tyre Sampson’s father, Yarnell Sampson, told Fox35 his son was 6’5″ and weighed 340 lbs. According to the ride’s safety manual, the maximum passenger’s weight must be 130kg, which is just over 280 pounds.
Yarnell Sampson also said that his son had been turned away from other rides in the past.
The manual also emphasized to “check that they fit within the contours of the seat and the bracket fits properly. If this is not so – do not let this person ride.”
The ride opened in late December, and according to a media release it passed its initial permit inspection conducted by FDACS “and no deficiencies were noted.”
The release also stated, “All temporary amusement rides are inspected and permitted each time they are moved or set up at a new location. Permanent rides are permitted annually and are inspected prior to permitting, as well as midway through the permit year.”
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried gave her condolences writing in the release, “Words cannot express the sorrow felt by the tragic loss of such a young man, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time.”
She went on to write, “The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is actively investigating the incident, along with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. We hope the subsequent findings will be able to inform us all as to how this tragedy occurred and will precipitate any changes necessary to better protect patrons of amusement rides in Florida.”
As of a release on Monday evening, ICON Park wrote on their website that they are continuing to “fully cooperate” as the investigation continues.
“We continue to grieve the passing of Tyre Sampson and our thoughts are with his family and friends. This was the saddest day in the history of ICON Park and we’re working hard to make sure this never happens again,” the park wrote.
Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Yarnell Sampson is grieving the loss of his son and told NBC station WESH, “It felt like somebody hit me so hard in my stomach. And it’s just sad, a young man’s bright future was taken away from him over a ride, an amusement park.” He said he found out about his son’s death when the video spread on social media.
“This should never happen to nobody else child ever again,” he told Fox35.
The police at The Orange County Sheriff’s office stressed on Friday that “absolutely no criminal charges” had been filed.
