The blot on the landscape of Orlando is finally going to be removed.
Crews have arrived at the site of the Orlando FreeFall attraction at ICON Park on International Drive to finally begin the work that will see the towering reminder of a tragic night back in March last year, that saw 14 year old Tyre Sampson, a tourist visiting Orlando with friends, lose his life while riding the FreeFall
The family of Tyre Sampson had already made it clear that they wanted the ride to be dismantled before March 24, the first anniversary of the the teen's death.
According to a report on Channel 9, the family said they’re relieved this process has begun, with Attorneys representing his mother saying it’s a long time coming.
Since earlier today, Tuesday, March 7, workers have been on-site, constructing fencing and installing tarp around the ride.
Workers were also seen on the ride itself.
SlingShot Group have said that next week there will be a crane on-site to help with the process of removing the ride from I-Drive, SlingShot Group say that the process of removing the ride will last throughout next week.
Following an agreement with the state back in February, the owner and operator of the Orlando FreeFall attraction at ICON Park, Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot agreeing to not operate the Drop Tower anywhere within Florida and will NOT reapply for a permit to do so in the future for this ride or any similar style of ride.
As well as agreeing not to operate the ride in Florida, the owners paid a fine of $250,000 that the state announced on November 22 last year, when it was revealed that the state had filled an administrative complaint alleging multiple violations of Florida law in relation to the tragic death of the teenager Tyre Sampson.
Last year, Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot stated that they would be dismantling the attraction at ICON Park following the end of the investigations, and this is now what is thankfully happening.
Tyre Sampson, 14, tragically died during his spring break trip earlier this year to Orlando, when he fell from the Orlando FreeFall ride at Icon Park.
On November 22, last year, Florida officials announced an administrative complaint alleging multiple violations of Florida law in relation to the tragic death of the teenager totalling $250,000.
Sampson, a 14-year-old from Missouri, fell from the ride on March 24, sparking an ongoing series of lawsuits and investigations surrounding the tragic incident.
The state said that the operator of the Orlando FreeFall made “manual adjustments to the ride resulting in it being unsafe” and allowed the harness’ restraint opening to be “almost double” of the normal opening range.
“These misadjustments allow the safety lights to illuminate, improperly satisfying the ride’s electronic safety mechanisms that allow the ride to operate even though Mr. Sampson was not properly secured in the seat,”
“As noted in the report, there are many other potential contributing factors that may have played a role in the incident. And that is what our department is continuing to investigate.”
An autopsy report revealed Tyre Sampson weighed 383 pounds and according to a manual produced by the manufacturer of the ride, Funtime Thrill Rides, the maximum weight allowance for Orlando FreeFall is listed as 286 pounds.
Weeks after the boy’s fatal fall, attorneys for his family formally filed a lawsuit against Funtime Thrill Rides, the manufacturer; Slingshot Group, the owner-operator in Florida; and ICON Park, which leased the space.
The lawsuit alleges the ride’s operators should have known that riders could be “subject to unreasonably dangerous and foreseeable risks, and that serious injury and death of the occupants in the ride could result.”
In light of the investigations, lawmakers released a draft proposal to strengthen the state’s safety regulations for amusement park rides, calling for stricter signage requirements, training, safety systems and random inspections.
