Mother of 400-pound 14-year-old boy who died after falling off 400ft FreeFall ride reveals legal settlement has been agreed – as she visits Orlando theme park to witness attraction’s demolition
- Nekia Dodd arrived at ICON Park to watch the FreeFall ride be demolished after her son Tyre Sampson died after falling off the ride in March 2022
- Her attorneys announced she, the park, and the ride company had come to an undisclosed agreement after Tyre’s family sued in April
- ICON Park said in a statement that they ‘agreed with the owner’s decision to dismantle the ride and our hearts are with the family’
The mother of the 14-year-old boy who died after falling off a 400-foot ride announced she reached a settlement with the park and ride company as she visited the site where her son died.
Nekia Dodd arrived at ICON Park in Missouri to watch the FreeFall ride be demolished after her son Tyre Sampson – who was more than 100 pounds over the weight limit – slipped from its safety harness in March 2022.
‘My son took his last breath on this ride, so it’s heartbreaking, it’s devastating,’ she said at a press conference on Wednesday. ‘It’s a feeling I hope no other parent will ever have to go through after this ride comes down.’
Dodd visited the site with her daughter and niece to watch the demolition, where her lawyers announced an undisclosed settlement had taken place. The settlement came after the family sued the ride manufacturer Funtime Thrill Rides, Slingshot Group, and ICON Park in April.
ICON Park said in a statement that they ‘agreed with the owner’s decision to dismantle the ride and our hearts are with the family as they witness this important milestone.’
Nekia Dodd arrived at ICON Park to watch the FreeFall ride be demolished after her son Tyre Sampson, who weighed 400 pounds, died after falling off the ride in March 2022. Her lawyers announced an undisclosed settlement had taken place. The settlement came after the family sued the ride manufacturer Funtime Thrill Rides, Slingshot Group, and ICON Park in April
As the one-year anniversary approaches, Dodd said her ’emotions are all over.’ ‘I’m angry still. I’m happy, I’m everything,’ she said
https://youtube.com/watch?v=QiGERsXpWwk%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US
Sampson was on vacation with his friends on March 24 when he hopped on the ride, despite telling his friends he didn’t know if he’d ‘make it down.’ In a shocking and graphic video, Sampson’s body can be seen slipping out of the safety harness and falling to the ground.
A 911 call revealed Sampson landed facedown and wasn’t responsive and appeared to have broken his arms and legs. An autopsy later determined Sampson died of blunt force trauma and his death was ruled as an ‘accident.’
The six-foot five inches football player had been turned away from other rides for his 383-pound size when he visited on spring break from St. Louis. The maximum passenger weight for the ride is 287 pounds, according to its maintenance manual.
‘When he passed, I wasn’t there for him,’ his mother said of her son’s passing. ‘I had to do this,’ she said, referring to the lawsuit.
An initial report by outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in Sampson not being properly secured.
Tyre died on March 24 at the age of 14 after he fell out of his seat on the ride as he wasn’t properly buckled in
Video from the ride shows his harness lifted up while the ride was in motion
But the 911 call revealed in March that they ‘didn’t secure the seatbelt on him.’
‘They’re saying he’s breathing, but he’s not responsive. Looks like his arms are broken and his legs,’ the person said.
Sampson, who was known at Big Tick to his friends and was a rising middle school football player, appeared to come out of the seat just as magnets activated to slow the ride down on its descent.
In the viral video that circulated after his death, a ride operator could be heard asking another if they had ‘checked’ the seatbelt, which they said the light was on, indicating it was, but it was later revealed they overrode that.
Since her son’s death, Dodd has been working to get the FreeFall ride taken down.
‘This ride, as you all know, is a death trap. There’s no other way to describe it,’ her lawyer said on Wednesday.
A 911 call revealed Sampson landed facedown and wasn’t responsive and appeared to have broken his arms and legs. An autopsy later determined Sampson died of blunt force trauma and his death was ruled as an ‘accident’
Dodd also helped create regulations to force rides going above 100 feet to have both a seatbelt and a harness. In August, State Representative Geraldine Thompson also announced that she would be introducing the ‘Tyre Sampson Law’ to improve rider safety on amusement rides in the next legislative session.
‘A seatbelt would have saved Tyre’s life,’ the attorney said. The FreeFall ride was not equipped with a seatbelt, only a harness.
‘If you’re going over 150 feet, it’s needed,’ Nodd agreed.
As the one-year anniversary approaches, Dodd said her ’emotions are all over.’
‘I’m angry still. I’m happy, I’m everything,’ she told the crowd of reporters. ‘I’m all over with emotions.’
The mother has started a foundation in her son’s name that will help with athletics programs as he was a football player and was ‘headed for the NFL.’
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