Jury awards $300M to family of teen killed on Orlando ride
A Florida jury has ordered Austrian amusement ride manufacturer Funtime Handels GMBH to pay $310 million (£243 million) in damages to the family of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who tragically fell to his death from a drop ride at Orlando’s ICON Park in 2022. The payout is one of the largest ever awarded in a theme park-related case.
Tyre Sampson, a talented young football player, was visiting ICON Park in Orlando with his team during spring break when the tragic incident occurred. Despite exceeding the ride’s 129kg (285lb) weight limit by 43kg (94lbs), he was permitted to board the attraction, which lacked seat belts. As the ride ascended, Tyre fell 30 meters (98 feet) to the ground, suffering severe injuries. He was rushed to a nearby children’s hospital but sadly died shortly after arrival.
The jury held Funtime Handels GMBH responsible for negligence, highlighting critical safety flaws in the ride’s design and operation. Tyre’s family argued that the tragedy could have been avoided if the company had prioritized safety over profits. The Austrian manufacturer did not send a representative to court, and no legal counsel appeared on their behalf, underscoring a lack of accountability for the devastating loss.
The verdict represents significant progress in holding corporations accountable for ensuring the safety of their products. The outcome has been described as a meaningful victory for families who place their trust in manufacturers to prioritize safety. The jury awarded $310 million in damages for the pain and suffering experienced by Tyre’s family, with the amount evenly divided between his mother and father.
In March 2022, just a month after Tyre Sampson’s tragic death, his parents filed a civil lawsuit seeking justice for their loss. While the case against the ride’s manufacturer continued, the family reached an undisclosed settlement with two other defendants: Eagle Drop Slingshot, the ride’s owner, and ICON Park, where the fatal incident occurred. Tyre’s uncle, Carl Sampson, reflected on the young boy’s life, remembering him as a “really good kid” and “very intelligent,” a sentiment that underscored the profound loss experienced by his loved ones.
The heartbreaking incident has led to significant reforms in Florida’s amusement park safety regulations. In May 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Tyre Sampson Act into law, a measure designed to ensure stricter safety standards for theme park rides. The legislation requires mandatory seat belts and harnesses for rides exceeding 100 feet (30 meters) in height, addressing gaps in safety protocols that contributed to Tyre’s death. The act aims to protect future riders by holding operators accountable for maintaining higher safety measures and preventing avoidable tragedies. Tyre’s legacy now serves as a catalyst for change, ensuring that the safety of amusement park visitors is prioritized across Florida.
The verdict sends a strong message to the amusement ride industry about the importance of safety in ride design and operation. Tyre’s death has become a rallying point for stricter oversight and reform in theme park safety, ensuring that no family endures a similar tragedy. As Mr. Crump stated, the case underscores the need for corporations to take responsibility for the products they create and the lives they impact.