Teen's Parents Win $310 Million After Fatal Orlando Theme Park Fall

Florida Jury Faults Austrian Manufacturer for Missing Safety Features

A Florida jury ordered Funtime to pay $310 million to the parents of Tyre Sampson, who fell to his death at an Orlando amusement park in 2022. On December 6, 2024, the Orange County verdict grants $155 million each to Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. After a shoulder harness failed, their 14-year-old son plunged 70 feet from the Orlando Free Fall attraction. The Austrian manufacturer’s absence from the one-day trial underscored the fatal flaws in the ride’s design.

5 Key Points

• The March 24, 2022, accident revealed the ride lacked basic safety features, including a $660 seat belt system.
• Tyre Sampson, a 6’2″ football player weighing 380 pounds, fell when the ride’s shoulder harness malfunctioned.
• Before the trial, Icon Park reached a separate, confidential settlement with the Sampson family.
• The 430-foot Orlando Free Fall attraction never reopened after Sampson’s death.
• The verdict ranks among the largest ever awarded in an amusement park safety case.

$660 Safety Feature Omitted from World’s Tallest Drop Ride

The Orlando Free Fall relied solely on overhead shoulder restraints, ignoring industry standards that called for additional seat belt systems. The 430-foot tower suspended 30 riders around its perimeter, making it the world’s tallest free-standing drop attraction. When the ride descended, the restraint system failed to secure Sampson, leading to his fatal fall. The Missouri teenager visited Orlando during spring break when the manufacturer’s decision to skip the $660 safety feature proved lethal.

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Manufacturer’s Absence Results in Record-Breaking Verdict

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and co-counsel Natalie Jackson presented evidence showing Funtime posted no weight restrictions and failed to modify restraints for larger riders. The jury took less than a day to reach their decision. “Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits,” the attorneys stated after the verdict. Safety advocates called the $310 million award unprecedented in amusement ride cases.

Austrian Courts Hold Key to Compensation

The Sampson family must navigate Austria’s legal system to collect damages from Funtime, which produces thrill rides, including the Vomatron and Sling Shot. The manufacturer declined to appear in Florida court proceedings or respond to email requests for comment. Demolition crews have started dismantling the Orlando Free Fall at Icon Park, where the ride has stood unused since March 2022. The park’s operator, Orlando Slingshot, settled earlier claims for undisclosed terms.