The family of a teenage boy who died after falling from a theme park ride have been awarded a $310 million (£243 million) payout.
Tyre Sampson fell from the FreeFall amusement ride at ICON Park in Orlando in March 2022.
He was rushed to hospital but tragically died of his injuries.
Tyre Sampson fell from the FreeFall amusement ride at ICON Park in Orlando
Tyre was more than 100 pounds over the ride’s weight limit when he slipped out of the safety harness and fell around 100ft.
It is believed the teenager’s size meant that the fastening on the ride did not secure correctly.
A report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) explained that Tyre appeared to have slipped as the ride descended.
The report claims that a harness sensor in the seat was ‘manually loosened, adjusted, and tightened’ which resulted in a gap of nearly seven inches.
The ride – which has since been demolished – featured 30 seats attached to a tower in which riders were secured with a shoulder harness before being dropped 430ft.
Following the tragic incident, Tyre’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, have sued ICON and ride manufacturer Funtime, claiming the ride did not provide adequate safety restraints.
“While most free fall rides of this type have both a shoulder harness and a seatbelt, this subject FreeFall ride only had an over-the-shoulder harness to ‘secure’ riders,” the lawsuit stated.
On Thursday (5 December) Tyre’s parents won the civil lawsuit against Funtime, and will both receive $155 million each in the settlement.
Family attorneys, Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, announced the news on Twitter.
“This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products,” the statement reads.
“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.
“Tyre’s legacy will be a safer future for riders everywhere.”
NEWS ALERT: @AttorneyCrump and attorney Natalie Jackson have issued a statement after the jury delivered its $310 million verdict in the civil trial concerning the tragic death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the FreeFall ride at ICON Park in March 2022 pic.twitter.com/WUDj8E40De
— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) December 5, 2024
At the time of the incident, a statement was shared by ICON Park, who said they were working with authorities to investigate.
“Tonight, the ICON Park family is grieving because of the tragedy involving Tyre Sampson. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family and friends. ICON Park is committed to being a place where families can spend quality time together in a safe and fun space,” the statement said.
“We are in close coordination and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and regulators regarding our tenant, the SlingShot Group.”
