Photo: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
A teenager from 14 died years after falling from a drop tower attraction, which opened at the ICON Park amusement park in Orlando, Florida, reported the authorities.
Tire Sampson, of 14 years ago, he fell from the Orlando FreeFall attraction, known as the tallest tower in the world, reported the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
In a video posted on social networks, the alleged accident can be seen, a person falls from his chair about five seconds into the descent of the tower, while the ride decelerates a few meters from the ground.
Authorities were called to ICON Park near 11: 00 of the night. The young man from Missouri was taken to an emergency center, where he died due to the seriousness of his injuries
Details of why the fall occurred have not yet been specified.
Sheriff’s detectives will determine if the incident was an accident or intentional, and based on the initial investigation, “appears to be a terrible tragedy”, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said.
“I’d like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of the young man who lost his life late last night after falling from the Orlando Free Fall attraction. We can’t imagine the pain and anguish that his family must be going through.”- OCSO Sheriff John Mina pic.twitter.com/a6tRdVn9PC
—Orange County Sheriff’s Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) March 14, 2022
The FreeFall is a tower of 430 feet high, with a vehicle that goes around the tower and leads up to 30 people to the top, who will then “lean forward 30 degrees and will face the ground before almost falling 400 feet at speeds reaching 30 mph,” describes the ICON website. Park.
An official from the company that operates the ride said the teen was secured in the seat he fell from , reported Spectrum News 11.
“Yes (he was secured in the seat). That is what we know at this time. So, again, we operate the trip with all safety precautions in mind and everything is in place and that is why we are doing an investigation”, said the director of Slingshot Group Sales and Marketing, John Stine.
This Friday morning, Stine refused to answer questions from the press about what caused Sampson’s fall.
For his part, Brook Jones, representative of Slingshot, said that FreeFall will be closed “until further warning”.
“We are heartbroken by the incident that took the life of one of our guests. We extend our condolences and deepest condolences to his family and friends. We are working with the Sheriff’s Office and mounting officers on a full investigation,” Jones said.
Furthermore, ICON Park released a statement stating that “a tragedy occurred last night at Orlando FreeFall and our hearts are heavy.”
“The owner of the attraction is fully cooperating with the authorities and ICON Park is doing everything possible to help,” the statement read.
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