According to safety inspectors who examined the FreeFall drop tower, Tyre Sampson’s seat harness “was still locked” when they inspected it. Ever since the 14-year-old tragically fell to his death from an amusement ride in Florida, there has been speculation that his seat restraint wasn’t properly secured. Other factors are now being investigated.
Safety team inspection
Official safety investigators for the state of Florida released their incident report on Monday, March 28, regarding the tragic death of Tyre Sampson. The young man was ejected from the FreeFall drop tower last Thursday. The amusement ride, owned by ICON Park in Orlando, “takes riders up 430 feet and then drops at speeds of up to 75 mph.” Officials aren’t yet sure exactly why Sampson came out of his seat.
What they do know is that the crucial instant occurred when “magnets engaged to slow the ride during the descent.” That happens about two-thirds of the way down, around 150 feet from the ground.
After conducting an inspection and interviewing witnesses, the safety team issued a public report, which was then filed by the operator with the fair rides division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
It noted that the seat’s harness “was still in a down and locked position when the ride stopped.” All three of the interviewed witnesses were listed as employees.
Most of the questions swirling around now focus on “whether the teenager may have been too large to be allowed on the ride.” That seems to be the case. Tyre’s father, Yarnell Sampson, told the press his six-foot-five, 340 pound son was “a big guy.” A glance at the ride’s operations and maintenance manual confirms “the maximum passenger weight is 130 kilograms.” That works out to around 287 pounds.
The safety manual also warns to be “careful when seeing if large guests fit into the seats. Check that they fit within the contours of the seat and the bracket fits properly. If this is not so — Do not let this person ride.”
Ride closed for now
At this point, there isn’t any solid information as to whether Sampson “fit the contours of the seat” or if the safety bracket “fit properly.” Those questions will be answered with more investigation. Meanwhile ride operator Slingshot Group and ICON Park are playing things close to the vest.
There is no denying the viral video showing what’s been described as “a person falling from their seat about five seconds into the ride’s drop, perhaps about two-thirds of the way down, as the ride slowed as it approached the ground.”
The attraction will be closed until the safety investigation is wrapped up. The horrific demise is also being investigated separately by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
They note that no criminal charges have been filed but the file will stay open until they figure it all out. ICON Park announced on Monday that they “demanded that Slingshot Group suspend another of its rides.”
Safety first, the landlord said in a statement. Nobody is going to be flung from the SlingShot ride either.
Not “until such time as a thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities has been completed and all parties are satisfied that the rides are safe for the public.“
