Orlando FreeFall owner reaches settlement to begin dismantling ride after Tyre Sampson’s death

The owner of the Orlando FreeFall confirmed to FOX 35 News that it has reached an agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to proceed with the dismantling of the attraction where a teenager lost his life last year.

«We are pleased to have resolved this matter with FDACS without the necessity of a formal hearing,» wrote Trevor Arnold, GrayRobinson P.A., attorney for Orlando Slingshot. «As we publicly stated since October, we have been preparing for taking down the FreeFall ride once FDACS concluded its investigation.»

Tyre Sampson, 14, died in March when he fell to his death after slipping out of his seat on the 430-foot drop tower ride which opened at ICON Park in December 2021. The ride has been closed since June.

The agreement, dated Feb. 6, allows the company to begin coordinating a timeline with all involved parties to take down the ride, which it expects will take several weeks to complete. As part of a settlement, Orlando Slingshot paid a $250,000 fine to FDACS and has agreed to never again operate the drop tower in Florida and will not reapply for a permit to do so in the future.

It has been the wish of Sampson’s parents to have the Orlando FreeFall taken down. They are suing the owner, manufacturer, and landlord, claiming they were all negligent and failed to provide a safe amusement ride.

An autopsy showed that Tyre Sampson suffered numerous broken bones and internal injuries in the fall, which was ruled an accidental death.