When taking part in the thrill-seeking activity of amusement park rides, there's always a slight fear in the back of everyone's mind that asks, is this safe?
What if I get hurt?
Usually, those fears are unfounded, but in a recent incident a common fear was made real in a tragic way.
14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death on Thursday night from a free-fall amusement park ride at Orlando, Florida's ICON Park.
WESH NBC 2 reported on the tragedy.
Simpson, who was visiting family in the Orlando area from Missouri, was riding on Free-Fall with family when he slipped from his harness and fell to his death.
A video shared on the TikTok page of Moe Elkhatib, who goes by the handle @moe.david.elk, captured a conversation between two people questioning if the seatbelts on the ride had been properly checked.
As the ride was beginning to ascend, a voice from off camera could be heard saying "Oh, sh*t", as another voice could be heard asking if the ride attendant checked the seatbelt from the left side.
We can then hear a “no” being uttered as the ride ascended, out of view from the camera.
Viewers were appalled ride attendants could have made such a major and in this case fatal mistake.
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Some even went so far as to say the ride attendants should be charged for Sampson's death.
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@moe.david.elk/TikTok
@moe.david.elk/TikTok
John Stine, a spokesperson for Slingshot Group who owns the ride, was confused how this tragedy could even take place
As he told CBS News, the ride shouldn't be able to operate if all passengers aren't properly locked in.
"It's very difficult to say what could have gone wrong."
"The way the ride is designed, with all the safety features and redundancy, there shouldn't be an issue."
"We are deeply saddened and sorry."
The operating manual for the ride lists the maximum weight as under 287 pounds.
According to the attorney for Sampson's family, Sampson was over 300 pounds, and thus should not have been allowed on the ride.
WESH 2 reported while the ride included signs showing a minimum height requirement, there were no signs for a maximum weight.
Following the incident, both rides owned by Slingshot Group at ICON Park have been closed until further notice.
A spokesperson for ICON Park said in a statement, the rides will reopen only if they are determined to be safe following an investigation.
"In the interests of public safety, ICON Park demands that the SlingShot Group suspend not only the operation of Orlando FreeFall but also the operation of Orlando SlingShot, effective immediately, continuing until such time as a thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities has been completed and all parties are satisfied that the rides are safe for the public."
ICON Park also expressed their sympathy to Sampson's family and gave their word such a horrific incident will never happen again
"We continue to grieve the passing of Tyre Sampson and our thoughts are with his family and friends."
"This was the saddest day in the history of ICON Park and we’re working hard to make sure this never happens again."
An extended, and very graphic, video capturing Sampson's fall was shared on Twitter, apparently with the approval of Sampson's family.
But Elkhatib strongly encouraged viewers to avoid watching that video in a follow-up on TikTok.
The comments were filled with people who expressed their remorse over watching the video of Sampson's death, stating it left them traumatized.
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