Teen Dead After Falling From ICON Ride In Orlando

A 14-year-old boy died after falling from the ICON amusement park ride in Orlando on Thursday.

WSVN.com reports that Tyre Sampson was visiting from Missouri when he boarded the tallest freefall ride in the world, standing at a jaw-dropping 430 feet. Apparently, Sampson slipped from his seat on the ride as it descended to a low point, crashing into the ground.

“Bam, went straight through his chair and dropped,” said a witness who called 911, adding “It was the biggest smack I ever heard in my life. I seen him hit the ground.”

The ride is owned by Slingshot Group, which issued a statement through its sales director John Stein. “We are absolutely saddened and devastated by what happened, and our hearts go out this young man’s family,” he said.

Other riders may have been concerned about the ride’s safety, as an NBC “Today” show segment showed people expressing their concerns with the ride’s seat restraints on the night of the tragedy.

The Freefall ride and Slingshot ride, both owned by Slingshot Group, are closed indefinitely.

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