The parents of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old boy who tragically lost his life after falling from a theme park ride, have been awarded $310 million (£243 million) in damages by a jury.
In March 2022, Tyre Sampson fell approximately 100 feet (30 meters) from the Orlando Free Fall ride at ICON Park in Florida.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 27 stone (172 kg), Tyre’s size prevented the ride’s shoulder harness from locking securely, contributing to the tragic incident.
Additionally, the ride did not have seat belts, a common safety feature typically found on most drop rides.
Tyre, a talented young football player from St. Louis, Missouri, was visiting Florida during spring break when the tragic incident occurred.
He exceeded the ride’s weight limit by approximately seven stone.
Despite these safety concerns, the ride operators failed to provide adequate warnings to riders or enforce the weight restrictions.
Tragically, as the ride braked during its descent, Tyre was ejected from his seat.
The ride, designed to seat 30 people and drop them from a height of 430 feet (131 meters), relied solely on a shoulder harness to secure its riders.
Following the tragedy, Tyre’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, filed a lawsuit against ICON Park, the ride’s operator, and Funtime, the Austrian company that manufactured the ride.
The lawsuit alleged that both parties failed to implement adequate safety measures and neglected to warn Tyre of the risks posed by his size.
In a civil trial that lasted just one day, the jury found Funtime guilty of negligence.
The company, which chose not to appear in court to defend itself, was ordered to pay $155 million (£121.5 million) to each of Tyre’s parents.
Although ICON Park had previously reached an undisclosed settlement with the family, the jury’s verdict highlighted the significant safety failings by Funtime.
According to the family’s lawyers, Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, the decision affirmed their stance that Tyre’s death was “the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits,” as reported by Sky News.
The lawyers condemned Funtime for neglecting its responsibility to safeguard passengers, emphasizing that the jury’s decision was a step toward ensuring accountability.
However, as Funtime is based in Austria, the family will need to pursue enforcement of the judgment in an Austrian court.
The Orlando Free Fall ride was permanently closed after the incident and is currently in the process of being dismantled.
Tyre’s mother, Nekia Dodd, shared her deep grief over the loss of her son, reminiscing about their final hug before his trip to Florida—a bittersweet memory of her last moments with him.
This tragic case underscores the catastrophic consequences of inadequate safety measures in theme park attractions and serves as a powerful reminder of the need to prioritize passenger safety above commercial interests.
