Florida amusement park horror: Dollywood closes drop tower ride made by same manufacturer as Orlando FreeFall

Dollywood is closing one among their rides which was developed from the identical producer because the Orlando FreeFall trip in Orlando, Florida, the place one 14-year-old fell and died on Thursday evening.

Tyre Sampson, 14, fell off of the FreeFall trip at Orlando’s ICON Park on Thursday evening. The trip is 430-feet-tall, in keeping with the attraction. The trip is operated by the SlingShot Group of Firms.

In an announcement a spokesperson for Dollywood mentioned that that their “Drop Line” trip was developed by the identical producer because the Orlando FreeFall trip, and mentioned it is going to be closed “out of an abundance of warning,” in keeping with WATE.

“Though Dollywood doesn’t have the particular trip concerned on this tragic incident, the protection of our friends is our high precedence. Out of an abundance of warning, and till additional particulars in regards to the accident at ICON Park are recognized, we’ve briefly closed Drop Line, our drop tower trip that was developed by the identical producer,” the spokesperson mentioned.

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The Drop Line at Dollywood stands at 230-feet-tall with a most velocity of 78 miles per hour, in keeping with a truth sheet.

Video footage of the incident exhibits the Orlando FreeFall trip moments earlier than the 14-year-old fell to his dying.

Sampson was taken to a hospital, the place he later died from his accidents. Authorities reportedly mentioned that the 911 name was positioned simply earlier than 11:15 p.m. E.T.

The 14-year-old’s father instructed FOX 35 Orlando that Tyre was feeling uncomfortable when the trip started.

“When the trip took off, that is when he was feeling uncomfortable. He was like, ‘This factor is shifting.’ … That is when he began freaking out,” Yarnell Sampson, instructed FOX 35 Orlando. “He was explaining to his pals subsequent to him … ‘If I don’t make it down … please inform my mother and pa I really like them.’ For him to say one thing like that, he should’ve felt one thing.”

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Vacationers benefit from the rides and facilities at ICON Park in Orlando on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Worldwide Drive, lengthy thought of a tourist-centered stretch between Orlando’s main theme parks, has thrived through the pandemic by rebranding itself as a spot for locals to collect too. The Wheel at ICON Park is at left, Orlando SlingShot in center, and Orlando FreeFall is at proper. A 14-year-old boy died after falling from the Orlando FreeFall trip late Thursday night. 
(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

“We acquired a bit nearer and it was an individual laying on the bottom,” Montrey Williams mentioned. “Everybody was simply panicking and screaming.”

ICON Park tweeted an announcement, which says it’s cooperating with legislation enforcement and grieving the tragedy.

Vacationers benefit from the rides and facilities at ICON Park in Orlando on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Worldwide Drive, lengthy thought of a tourist-centered stretch between Orlando’s main theme parks, has thrived through the pandemic by rebranding itself as a spot for locals to collect too. The Orlando FreeFall trip is pictured. A 14-year-old boy died after falling from the Orlando FreeFall trip late Thursday night. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

In an announcement, the SlingShot Group, which operates the Orlando FreeFall, mentioned that it’s going to cooperate with the investigation and expressed its deepest sympathy to household and pals of Sampson.

“We’re heartbroken with the incident that took the lifetime of one among our friends. We prolong our condolences and deepest sympathy to his household and pals. We’re working with the Sheriff’s Workplace and trip officers on a full investigation. The Orlando FreeFall shall be closed till additional discover,” the assertion reads.

Fox Information’ Julia Musto and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report