The Orlando FreeFall attraction on International Drive will be removed nearly seven months after a 14-year-old boy fell to his death while on the ride.
Orlando Slingshot, the operator of the ride, made the announcement on Thursday, October 6, that the 400-foot-tall FreeFall ride will be taken down in light of the death of Tyre Sampson.
Sampson was killed after he fell to his death from the top of the ride on March 24, 2022.
“We are devastated by Tyre’s death. We have listened to the wishes of Tyre’s family and the community, and have made the decision to take down the FreeFall,” said Ritchie Armstrong, a representative of Orlando Slingshot.
The group says that they will create a scholarship in Sampson’s name to “honor Tyre and his legacy in the classroom and on the football field.”
The timeline for taking down the FreeFall ride has not been determined, but must first be approved by all involved parties and regulatory entities.
The attraction is one of many at Orlando’s ICON Park, which also features the largest Ferris wheel in Central Florida. The Orlando Slingshot leases land at ICON Park, which released a separate statement in support of the removal.
“Tyre’s death is a tragedy that we will never forget. As the landlord, ICON Park welcomes and appreciates Orlando Slingshot’s decision to take down the ride,” reads the statement from ICON Park.