More than six months after Tyre Sampson‘s sudden death, ICON Park is working to honor the 14-year-old’s life and ensure that similar tragedies don’t occur.
Back on March 24, the 14-year-old Missouri native fell from the Orlando FreeFall, a 430-foot-tall drop tower ride that exceeds speeds of 70 mph.
An autopsy revealed that Tyre was about 100 lbs. over the weight limit, and operator error was found to have caused the tragedy, as there were “manual adjustments to the ride, resulting in it being unsafe,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried shared, CBS News reports.
Now, as authorities continue working to complete the investigation, the amusement park is announcing its next steps.
On Thursday, Orlando SlingShot — the entity that operates the Orlando FreeFall — unveiled a statement and shared that the ride, which has remained closed since the tragedy, will be officially taken down.
“We are devastated by Tyre’s death. We have listened to the wishes of Tyre’s family and the community and have made the decision to take down the FreeFall,” Ritchie Armstrong, CEO of The SlingShot Group, said in a statement.
Tyre Sampson died in March after plunging to his death while riding the Orlando FreeFall, which has been closed ever since. https://t.co/X6QhwbAwE0
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) October 7, 2022
“In addition, Orlando Slingshot will honor Tyre and his legacy in the classroom and on the football field by creating a scholarship in his name,” he continued, though the specific details surrounding this scholarship are currently unclear.
ICON Park, the “landlord” that housed the attraction, stands behind this decision.
“Tyre’s death is a tragedy that we will never forget. As the landlord, ICON Park welcomes and appreciates Orlando Slingshot’s decision to take down the ride,” a spokesperson for the park noted in the same statement.
Tyre’s father, Yarnell Sampson, also acknowledged the decision.
“It’s an emotional day. I am having a happy cry right now,” the bereaved father told CNN. “It’s a little piece of justice for my son. But the mission doesn’t stop. This is just part of the cause. A young man lost his life.”
“While this announcement is long overdue, the news today is a relief to Tyre Sampson’s grieving father, who has been advocating for this since the day Tyre fell to his death,” Ben Crump and Bob Hilliard, attorneys representing Yarnell, added, CNN reports.
“The Orlando FreeFall ride never should have been permitted to operate under those faulty conditions. Theme parks, their parent companies, and regulatory agencies must do better to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening to any other family,” the lawyers added.
