A Missouri family has received a significant judgment of $310 million following the tragic death of their 14-year-old son at an Orlando amusement park in 2022. Tyre Sampson died after falling from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park, which has sparked intense discussions about safety standards in amusement parks.
On Thursday, a jury in Orange County ruled that the ride’s manufacturer, Funtime, must pay $155 million to each of Tyre’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. The incident occurred on March 24, 2022, when Tyre fell 70 feet from the ride. Remarkably, the trial only took one day, as Funtime chose not to appear to present a defense.
While the attraction itself has already reached a settlement with Tyre’s family, the verdict against Funtime underscores concerns over safety regulations in the amusement industry. Family attorneys emphasized in their statement that Tyre’s death was the result of clear negligence and a disregard for passenger safety, prioritizing profits instead.
Now, the family faces the challenge of collecting the awarded damages, as they will need to pursue legal action in Austria, where Funtime is based.
At the time of the accident, Tyre was visiting Orlando during spring break and had just enjoyed a thrilling experience on the Free Fall ride, which is designed to drop riders from a height of 430 feet. The ride did not include seat belts, a common safety feature in similar attractions. Due to Tyre’s size—he was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds—the harness failed to secure him properly, resulting in his tragic fall as the ride braked.
The parents argued that both the ride’s operator, Orlando Slingshot, and Funtime should have communicated the risks associated with Tyre’s size and ensured proper safety restraints. Reports indicate that adding seat belts to the ride would have only cost about $660.
In the aftermath of the incident, the state ordered the ride’s closure, and it has since been slated for demolition. This heartbreaking case has raised questions about the responsibilities of amusement parks in safeguarding their guests, especially concerning those with unique needs.
