Teen dies after falling from amusement park ride at ICON park in Florida

Publish date: 2024-07-12

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A 14-year-old boy died late Thursday after plummeting from an amusement park ride in Orlando, according to reports

Disturbing footage of the incident shared on social media shows Tyre Samson, 14, plunging from the “Orlando Free-Fall” ride at ICON Park about halfway down its 400-foot descent.

Horrified witnesses and other riders began screaming after the ride came to a rest as the tragic teen lay motionless just feet away from them.

“Oh my God!” screamed one woman. “Oh my God! He just fell! Oh my God!”

Orange County police said Samson was visiting Florida from Missouri and staying with the family of a friend.

“Everyone was just panicking and screaming,” Montrey Williams told Fox 35.

One frenzied woman can be seen asking staffers if they had secured the Samson’s safety harness before the ride.

“Are you sure you checked him?” she asks repeatedly.

Tyre Samson was a football player. Tyre Sampson/Facebook
Tyre Samson was only 14-years-old. Tyre Sampson/Facebook

Other workers can be seen covering their mouths in paralyzed disbelief while bystanders hurried their traumatized kids away from the scene.

Meanwhile, riders can be heard yelling at workers to unlock their harnesses.

Tyre died after being rushed to a local hospital.

Multiple people who witnessed the terrifying scene alerted deputies when the boy fell off the ride around 11 p.m. Thursday. AP
Police investigate at the foot of the ride. FOX 35
Witnesses alerted officials after the tragic ordeal when the boy flew off the tower attraction. AP
A frenzied woman was heard asking staffers if they had secured the boy’s safety harness before the ride. AP

The “Orlando Free-Fall” opened in December 2021 and claims to be the country’s tallest free-standing drop tower. The ride stands 430 feet tall and can hold up to 30 people.

The ride spins around a gigantic tower after it reaches peak level in the air. Riders are positioned forward with their faces at the ground before dropping at 75 miles per hour.

An investigation is ongoing.

Authorities have not yet released the name of the victim. FOX 35
Yarell Sampson, father of Tyre Sampson, speaks to the media about his son’s death. FOX35 Orlando
The “Orlando Free-Fall” opened in December 2021 and claims to be the tallest free-standing drop tower. The ride stands 430 feet tall and can hold up to 30 people. Fox 35

“We can’t imagine the pain and anguish that his family must be going through,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at a Friday press conference.

In 2020, a worker died while performing maintenance on a different attraction at ICON Park. Jacob Kaminsky fell about 60 feet to his death, according to the Orlando Sentinel. He was 21 years old.

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