Teen who fell to his death at Florida amusement park was turned away from two other rides, his cousin say
Teen who fell to his death at Florida amusement park was turned away from two other rides, his cousin say
Tyre Sampson
Tyre Sampson fell Thursday from the Orlando FreeFall drop tower, which takes riders up 430 feet
LShay Johnson spoke with 14-year-old Sampson by phone just before he got on the FreeFall drop tower at the park
LShay Johnson spoke with 14-year-old Sampson by phone just before he got on the FreeFall drop tower at the park
"He called me back about seven minutes later. He said 'They said I'm too big. I can't ride,' " Johnson said in the interview with Spectrum News 13.
Johnson said she told Sampson to try another one, the SlingShot, but he was also told he was too big. He told her there was one more ride he was going to try.
An accident report obtained by CNN said Sampson's seat was locked when the ride landed.
Video circulating on social media, purportedly of the ICON Park incident, shows a person falling from their seat about five seconds into the ride's drop, perhaps about two-thirds of the way down, as the ride slowed as it approached the ground.
Sampson's father, Yarnell Sampson, also raised the question of his son's size Friday, telling CNN: "My son was 6'5" 340. So, he's a big guy."
"We are heartbroken by the loss of Tyre Sampson and absolutely devastated for his family and loved ones," the group said in a statement.