Following the terrible death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, the Orlando FreeFall drop tower ride at ICON Park will be demolished, the attraction’s owners announced on Thursday. When Tyre went to Florida for Spring Break in March, the ride’s restraints on him broke.
“I feel like a kid at a candy shop. I’m not sure what to do at all. I feel so many different things, including respect at last. It’s true, “Yarnell Sampson, Tyre’s father, expressed his disappointment upon learning that Orlando’s FreeFall rollercoaster would be closing. “I’m just relieved that they’ve finally realised their error and decided to get rid of the object. Let’s start anew and develop a better strategy.”
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Ritchie Armstrong, the CEO of Orlando Slingshot, said in a statement that the firm opted to remove the 430-foot drop tower ride in order to honour the desires of Sampson’s family and the outcry from the public over the boy’s passing.
“Tyre’s passing has left us devastated. Tyre’s family and the community have expressed their wishes, and we have decided to demolish the FreeFall “Armstrong read his statement. In addition, Orlando Slingshot will establish a scholarship in Tyre’s honour to recognise his contributions to learning and football. The FreeFall ride’s deconstruction has not yet been scheduled.
“Tyre’s passing is tragic, and we will never forget it. Orlando Slingshot’s decision to remove the ride is welcomed and appreciated by ICON Park, the property’s landlord “In a statement, ICON Park stated. The Orlando FreeFall ride was housed at Orlando’s ICON Park, a recreation area, and was owned by Orlando Slingshot.
JUST IN: The Orlando Free Fall, the drop tower attraction on International Drive, will be taken down, according to the ride’s operators. The ride was closed indefinitely after 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death in March. pic.twitter.com/TiyIa4PzJs
— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) October 6, 2022
Other local attractions, including Orlando Slingshot, a slingshot-style ride at ICON Park, are also owned by Armstrong’s business. “I turned it over to God. Because he exploited me as a vessel, it’s not a triumph for me; it’s a success for him.” a means of ensuring the security of other kids and avoiding tragic deaths like Tyres. “No child ever needs to perish while attempting to have fun. No parent ought to be forced to bury their kid.”
What Happened to Tyre Sampson?
On March 24, Sampson passed away after falling to his death from the Orlando FreeFall drop tower rollercoaster. The incident’s video was widely disseminated on social media. During spring break, the teen was in Orlando with a different Missouri family from St. Louis. The rollercoaster, which was still very new at the time, claimed to be the tallest drop tower in the entire globe. It has been shut since Tyre’s passing.
Orlando Freefall Death Investigation

The tyre was almost 100 pounds more than the ride’s weight limit, according to an autopsy, and a state inquiry found ride workers manually adjusted his seat to accommodate him. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s autopsy revealed that blunt force trauma was the boy’s cause of death and that his death was “accidental” in nature.
“Too huge to have been on the ride was Tyre. There is no question in my mind “Ben Crump, the family’s lawyer, said. The maximum allowed weight was 286 pounds, yet they disregarded their own limitations. Commissioner Nikki Fried stated during a press conference that these modifications allowed the ride’s restraint opening to be more than double what it was intended to be.
According to a report, it was also established that the ride itself did not have a mechanical or electrical failure, even though Sampson’s death was caused by additional reasons. It didn’t go into detail about what those contributing elements were. The Slingshot Group shut down its two rides at ICON Park, including the Slingshot ride, after Tyre passed away.
Tyre Sampson’s Family Files Lawsuit
The family of Tyre sued for wrongful death after his terrible death. Nekia Dodd, his mother, claims that everyone is equally to blame for her son’s passing, including the manufacturer, park managers, and ride operators. Tyre’s family gathered in August in ICON Park to commemorate his life on the occasion of his 15th birthday. Before assembling to pray, Yarnell Sampson and Attorney Ben Crump sang happy birthday, released balloons into the air, and chanted “take it down.”
State Representative Geraldine Thompson, who spoke at the press conference, informed the media that she intends to introduce the “Tyre Sampson Law” on the first day of the upcoming legislative session, which is anticipated to begin in March 2023. She declared that it will be the first bill she prepares as a senator for Florida.
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