Cause of Boy’s Fatal Fall From Florida Thrill Ride Still Unknown: Officials

ICON Park attractions, The Wheel, left, Orlando SlingShot, middle, and Orlando FreeFall, right, are shown in Orlando, Fla. on March 24, 2022. Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel via AP

The cause of a 14-year-old’s boy fatal fall from an Orlando free-fall tower last week has not yet been determined, Florida officials said, adding that the amusement park ride was “up to par.”

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried on Friday said that a forensic engineering firm was hired to determine the cause of death for Tyre Sampson, who fell about 400 feet from the FreeFall ride at ICON Park in Orlando in late March.

Inspectors followed the proper protocols before the ride opened, Fried said.

“Everything that we saw that we inspected to open up the ride … we followed the protocols, we followed the manual and everything was up to par per the manual of the manufacturer,” she said.

“We are fully committed to finding out what happened so we can better prevent such tragedies from happening in the future. And that’s why we will not be jumping to any conclusions before the information is provided to us and we know all the facts,” she said at an event, reported ClickOrlando 6.

The Orlando FreeFall, along with the Orlando SlingShot and the StarFlyer, have remained closed indefinitely pending further investigation. SlingShot Group leases from ICON Park to operate its rides, the park said.

“ICON Park looks forward to working with elected officials, regulators, and the amusement industry to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again,” said the park in a statement Friday. “As the landlord at ICON Park, our mission is to provide safe family entertainment. We rely on our tenants to be experts at what they do.”

Earlier this week, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service issued a report saying that the harness in Tyre’s seat was “still in a down and locked position when the ride stopped.”

Sampson’s father, Yarnell Sampson, told CNN last week that “my son was 6'5”, 340 [pounds]. So, he’s a big guy.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to SlingShot Group for comment.

SlingShot Group said in a statement following the teen’s death that it was “by the loss of Tyre Sampson and absolutely devastated for his family and loved ones,” and it is cooperating with authorities and ride officials.

“We have suspended the operations of the FreeFall ride and the Slingshot ride at Icon Park. We are fully cooperating with the authorities at the state and local levels who are investigating this tragic incident. We plan on providing additional information in the coming days, as we learn more,” the statement continued.