The Orange County Sheriff's Department released new details about a 14-year-old boy who died Thursday after falling from a ride at Icon Park in Orlando, Florida. IT WAS JUST AFTER 11:00 AT NIGHT ON MARCH 24 WHENYR TE AND FRIENDS VISITING FROM STLO. Seat belt.". Instead of the normal three inches found on the other unadjusted seats, Sampsons harness proximity sensor was manually loosened, adjusted, and tightened to allow a restraint opening of near 7 inches. It notes further, at the time of the accident, Seat 1s harness restraint opening was between 6 to 7 inches at the start of the ride. The timeline of the report asserts only that this adjustment occurred prior to the time of the accident, but after the initial setting. Ivan said he did not even realize that 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell during the exact moment that it happened since his eyes were fixed on his friends. There is evidence, however, that even the initial inspection may have been done improperly and ignored critical safety issues. It was the operators of the FreeFall, however, who gave him the green light a decision Sampson's cousin wished hadn't happened. FDACS commissioner Nikki Fried announced the reports finding at a press conference Monday, saying it confirmed our department's findings that an operator of the Orlando drop tower made manual adjustments to the ride, resulting in it being unsafe.. The teenager was visiting Central Floridaon a football program trip with his friend's family. Earlier, the sheriff's department said deputies responded to a 911 call at the park shortly after 11 p.m. on Thursday. I hate it, she told the newspaper. His death was caught on video and quickly went viral. His family says he aspired to play pro football, like many kids with athletic ability who see a way to buy their mother a house and lift everyone in the family to a new level. "This young man, he was athletic and he was big. The investigative report also analyzed video evidence at the time of the accident, which suggested the restraint opening initially was over six inches but, with the aforementioned compliance, may have grown to as much as 10 inches.. Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot LLC, which owns the FreeFall, has not responded to media inquiries or made any comments following the reports release. The Free Fall and its companion ride The SlingShot at ICON Park remain closed while the state continues its investigation. It's unclear if he did fasten it before the ride began (pictured: Tyre, far right). This was the second accident at the park in two years. Thompson said findings from the investigation could lead to a Tyre Sampson Bill, to address the unsafe conduct of the amusement industry, which is notoriously deregulated in Florida and throughout the US. The passengers rise hundreds of feet above the ground before plunging at a rapid speed. This is unbelievable. 'There ain't no seatbelts,' the ride attendant replied. Click to reveal WHEN IT DESCENDED, TYRE FELL FROM HIS SEAT. At a press conference Friday, Orange County Sheriff John Mina identified the young man as Tyre Sampson. Hes not breathing. He suffered extensive injuries, including a fractured jaw, a broken arm, a broken leg and fractures of a number of ribs. Like the seat belt? Dodd hopes to raise at least $30,000. ICON Park, the landlord of the operator, said in a statement Monday it is deeply troubled by the findings that the rides sensor had been mis-adjusted after the sensor was originally secured in place.. "We continue to grieve the passing of Tyre Sampson and our thoughts are with his family and friends. "That's something the Department of Agriculture will certainly look at and obviously we'll look at that as we make a determination if this was accidental or not," Mina added. An ICON Park spokesman said: "The ICON Park family is grieving because of the tragedy involving Tyre Sampson. Thanks for contacting us. WESH 2 Investigates: Teen's ICON Park death spurs call for ride safety changesOn April 18, an investigative report completed by a private engineering firm hired by the state indicated Sampson slipped through a seven-inch gap between the seat and safety harness. By Alyssa Guzman and Keith Griffith and Jennifer Smith, Chief Reporter For Dailymail.Com, Published: 15:09 GMT, 26 March 2022 | Updated: 17:32 GMT, 26 March 2022. The ride, which holds up to 30 people, opened at Icon Park in December. What we dont know is what happened after that. The field investigation, however, irrefutably proved that the operators manipulation of the seats sensors falsely presented the system as secure for Sampson and that proper safety protocols had been irresponsibly sacrificed at the cost of his life. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The dispatcher asks the caller if the teen was "awake," to which the man tragically responds: "No, he's dead. The boy fell out of his seat and landed on the ground soon afterward, to the horror of the other riders. The Orange County Sheriffs Office declined to offer any new information Saturday, and said the ride was now being investigated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The lawsuit says a seatbelt could have saved his life. CHILLING 911 calls from ICON Park claim staff didn't properly "secure the seatbelt" before a 14-year-old's tragic death. 'This particular ride decided: "Yeah, we can take you, get on," when nobody else would allow him to get on the rides,' he added. Until the safety lights are illuminated, the ride will not function. The Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are continuing their investigation into Sampson's death. 911: Okay, but when he fell, was he up off the ground? 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WESH-TV. SO THIS MEDICAL EXAMINERS REPORT CONFIRMS THAT TYRE WAS 97 POUNDS OVER THE MAXIMUM REQUIREMENT AND HE NEVER, NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE ON THAT RIDE IN THE FIRST PLA.CE GREG: AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT RELEASED APRIL 18 BY A PRIVATE ENGINEERING FIRM HIRED BY THE STATE REVEALED THE SAFETY SENSOR ON THE SHOULDER HARNESS WAS MANUALLY ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE TYRES SIZE, BUT IT ALLOWED A SEVEN-INCH GAP BETWEEN THE HARNESS AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT BIG ENOUGH FOR THE TEEN TO SLIP OUT. ', His step-mother Wendy said: 'Tyre was a respectful gentle giant. Welcome back Kyrie! Geometric calculations revealed that the initial proximity sensor location for Seat 1 would have located the seats harness to near 3 inches, or a more closed location with a sensor and restraint opening similar to the unadjusted 27 seats.. ON APRIL 25, TYRES PARENTS FILED SUIT IN CIRCUIT COURT IN ORANGE COUNTY, SEEKING UNSPECIFIED DAMAGES AGAINST ICON. "My heart is so heavy right my grandson Tyre Sampson just passed away he had just got accepted to East Side High School he had so so so many plans this is unbelievable this gotta be a dream He's gone my grandson is gone," the man wrote. He didn't write, you know, that I operated it (the ride) and it did this and it did that, checked all that lap bars for proper configuration. Tyre Sampson/NBC Screengrab. GREG: AND IT PREYTT MUCH TELLS US WHAT WE SUSPECTED EARLY ON BECAUSE OF THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY THAT LED TO HIS DEATH. An investigation by the state revealed that the seat Tyre Sampson fell to his death from on an amusement park ride was locked at the time of the fall. It appears to be a terrible tragedy, the sheriff said. We've received your submission. ", Another added as the ride began: "Have you checked your seat belt? JIM: WESH 2 INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER GREG FOX IS HERE WITH US. The ride has over-the shoulder restraint harnesses, with two hand grips at the chest level, that riders pull down and then they are released automatically at the end of the ride. "The ride was going, and during the middle of the ride, the guy just came off," the caller says. They [ICON park staff] didn't secure the seatbelt on him," the caller claims. HERE ARE THE KEY FINDINGS. The ride operator is shown telling the group that there 'ain't seatbelts' to hold them in, only the pull-down harnesses, Close up view of the Orlando Free Fall at ICON Park on Friday, March 25, 2022 in Orlando, ICON Park attractions, The Wheel, left, Orlando SlingShot, middle, and Orlando FreeFall, right, are shown in Orlando. The Sampson family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on April 25. SUMMER: 14-YEAR-OLD TYRE SAMPSON WAS RIDING THE FREE FALL DPRO RIDE MARCH 24 WHEN HE SUDDENLY FELL O OUTF HIS SE.AT NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, WERE HEARING THE DETAILS ABOUT THIS FATAL LLFA. All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. Seat belt? In a second heart-wrenching 911 call, the caller simply explains how Tyre "was gone.". It comes after chilling 911 calls from ICON Park claimed staff failed to properly secure the teenager's seatbelt, The US Sun revealed. ", No criminal charges have been filed but a negligence or wrongful death lawsuit, or both, seem likely. A man in a second call said: "The ride was going and during the middle of the ride, the guy just came off.". "The Free Fall and its companion ride The SlingShot at ICON Park remain closed while the state continues its investigation.The loss of Tyre Sampson was a tragic accident. Sampson was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. WESH 2 EXCLUSIVE: Man who filmed teens deadly fall from FreeFall describes horrific ICON Park accident. The individuals were 63 to 65 tall and weighed between 200 and 300 pounds. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. Tyre Sampson fell from the Orlando FreeFall on Thursday at ICON Park, a ride billed as "the world's tallest free-standing drop tower," and the report offered no new details about what caused the . It was just after 11 p.m. on March 24 when Sampson and friends, who were visiting from St. Louis, boarded the 430-foot tall Free Fall ride. Brandon Gregory, a football coach who appeared to be with Tyre on the tragic night, said the teen was "so happy" to get away from St. Louis for Spring Break. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The field investigation confirmed the ride operator made manual adjustments to the riding harness that resulted in it being unsafe. Woman: It looks like his arms are broken and his legs. Needless to say, his family is absolutely devastated. "Get your rest kid, as a coach you hate that phone call I received last night, Please keep his family and former/current teammates and coaches in prayer #RIPBigTick . The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The father of the 14-year-old boy who died Thursday night on the Orlando FreeFall is speaking out. A similar drop tower ride at Tennessee's Dollywood, made by the same manufacturer, has been shut down. In the field observations mentioned in the forensic report, investigators noted that no evidence of physical or mechanical failures from the ride had been found. ', The ride is pictured on Friday, the day after the accident, The6-foot-5, 340-pound teenager was on a trip with his football program, and was sitting next two two of his best friends when he plunged to his death, his father said. Hes about 300 pounds. 169.204.214.73 A makeshift memorial for Tyre Sampson is viewed outside the Orlando Free Fall ride at the ICON Park entertainment complex, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. Sampson fell to his death while on the ride. This case stems from the design of this ride in Austria to this fateful night when it was operated with Tyre on it. The attorney said the family plans on filing a lawsuit in coming weeks. HIs friends told investigators thathe had been turned away from other rides the day of his death because of his size. An autopsy revealed 14-year-old Tyre Sampson suffered internal injuries along with trauma to his head, neck and torso after falling from the FreeFall ride. The autopsy . We are devoted to working with our lawmakers in making lasting safety changes in the amusement park industry, Trevor Arnold, GrayRobinson P.A., attorney for Orlando Slingshot told WESH 2. The thrillseekers on board then start rotating up the illuminated column. A video from the incident appears to show passengers on the ride discussing issues with a seat restraint Thursday night. "Be careful when seeing if large guests fit into the seats. Um, Im not sure. We will see moving forward what that results in.'. Willie J. Allen Jr. /Orlando Sentinel via AP. 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