Twist after teen plunges from ride, dies

Tyre Sampson plunged from a theme park ride to his death. Now the 14-year-old’s family has finally found justice.

The company behind a ride that saw a 14-year-old fall to his death has been ordered to pay his family millions.

Tyre Sampson, 14, plunged more than 50 metres to his death when the harness designed to keep him strapped into the ICON Park Free Fall ride slipped over his head on March 24, 2022.

He reportedly “felt uncomfortable” when the ride started to take off. He claimed that the harness was moving as the ride rose 130 metres into the air.

Tyre Sampson, 14, plunged more than 50 metres to his death.

Nikki Fried, Florida Commissioner for the Department of Consumer Services, said at the time that the 14-year-old was never secured into his seat.

The ride was designed for people under 130kg. Tyre weighed 136kg.

The family filed a lawsuit against Funtime Handels, a foreign company, over their son’s death.

Ben Crump, a civil rights and personal injury lawyer, was the lead in the civil trial. An Orange Country jury decided the company should pay $310 million (AU $480 million) to the family.

“This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products,” Mr Crump said.

“The jury’s decision confirms what we have long argued: Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritise safety over profits. The ride’s manufacturers neglected their duty to protect passengers, and today’s outcome ensures they face the consequences of those decisions.

He reportedly “felt uncomfortable” when the ride started to take off.

“We hope this case serves as a wake-up call for the entire industry to implement stricter safety measures and oversight to prevent such tragedies from happening again. Tyre’s legacy will be a safer future for riders everywhere.”

Mr Crump had previously said that the teenager’s death was “completely preventable”. He told Orlando news channel WESH2 it was the “worst tragedy captured on video” that he’d seen besides George Floyd’s death.

In a disturbing video of the tragic incident taken by a bystander and shared on social media, one of the ride’s operators could be heard talking with a group strapped in for the ride.

“Y’all ever been on this before? You know how high you’re going? 430 feet. You’re coming down 75 miles per hour,” the ride operator told the group.

“Why doesn’t this have the little clip to it, like the seatbelt?” one woman asked him.

“You talking about a seat belt?” he replied.

As the ride begins, an operator appeared to joke: “Have you checked your seat belt? On the left side. Seat belt?”