ORLANDO, Fla. - Friday marks one year since 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall drop tower ride at ICON Park.His tragic death has sparked change and his parents and the community have been fighting to make amusement rides safer.Crews have been working hard over the last few weeks to tear it down the ride – which stood 430 feet tall – before the anniversary of Tyre's death.
His father, Yarnell, will be at the site to honor his son's memory. A balloon release will happen on Friday during a commemoration ceremony to remember the boy who would've turned 16 this year.Tyre was visiting Orlando on March 24, 2022 with another family from St.
Louis, Missouri when he rode the Orlando FreeFall ride. Tragically, he fell to his death that night from more than 100-feet in the air after slipping out of his seat.
The ride has been closed ever since.Investigators had concluded that Sampson's seat was manually adjusted to fit larger riders.An operating manual from the ride's manufacturer for the Orlando FreeFall stated that the maximum passenger weight is just over 286 pounds.