A 14-year-old boy from Missouri died after falling from a 430-foot tall thrill ride at an amusement park here in the US state of Florida on Thursday night, authorities said on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Tyre Sampson (14), a resident of St. Louis, Missouri. Sampson was on a vacation and had visited the city along with a friend’s family. The incident happened at Icon Park here at around 11 pm (local time) when Sampson fell during the descent of 430-foot tall Orlando FreeFall ride, described by its owners as the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower ride, media reported.
Following the incident, the boy was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. In the video supposedly captured by a bystander, the boy can be seen falling as the ride plummets to the ground. Witnesses can be heard screaming. Meanwhile, the Icon Park staff confirmed that the boy was strapped in properly.
During a press conference, Orange County Sheriff John Mina told media persons that the incident was a “terrible tragedy” and that an investigation is ongoing to ascertain whether it was an accident or not. Police said that the ride’s safety is also being investigated by the authorities.