Tyre Sampson identified as 14-year-old ICON Park Orlando victim who fell to his death from world’s tallest drop ride

THE 14-year-old boy who died after falling from the world's tallest drop ride was a high school football star.

identified the young man as Tyre Sampson of , who was visiting central Florida with a friend's family.

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Cops received reports of an emergency at ICON Park in , Florida, just after 11pm local time on Thursday.

Witnesses said a rider had fallen off the Orlando Free Fall attraction, Fox35 reports.

Footage uploaded online shows the operator talking with riders before they take off into the air.

As the ride starts, the worker yells: "Hey did you take your seat belt on the left side. Seat belt."

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The thrillseekers on board then start rotating up the illuminated column.

The passengers rise hundreds of feet above the ground before plunging at a rapid speed.

A 14-year-old boy fell from the ride and was taken to hospital, where he died.

Sampson's youth football coach, AJ Jones, told that the teenager was a "humble giant" and a straight-A student with dreams of making it to the .

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Witness Montrey Williams told Fox35: "At first we thought it was a piece of the ride or whatever until we got a little closer and it was a person laying on the ground.

"Everyone was just panicking and screaming."

'A GENTLE GIANT'

Brandon Gregory, a football coach who appeared to be with Sampson on the tragic night, said the teen was "so happy" to get away from St. Louis for Spring Break.

"Get your rest kid, as a coach you hate that phone call I received last night, Please keep his family and former/current teammates and coaches in prayer #RIPBigTick 💔💔💔💔🏈🏈.

"Was getting away from St Louis to enjoy his spring break 💔💔💔💔💔 he was so happy," Gregory added.

A woman who appears to be the girlfriend of Sampson's father asked the public to pray for the family.

"PLEASE PRAY FOR MY HUBBY HE LOST HES ONLY CHILD HES ONLY SON TYRE WAS A VERY RESPECTFUL GENTLE GAINT YOU WILL TRULY BE MISS SON I THANK GOD FOR 15 YRS YOU BEEN IN MY LIFE," the woman posted on .

"TELL MY GRAND SON LIL LONNIE WE MISS YALL DOWN HERE MY HEART IS TRULY BROKEN RIP Tyre Sampson YOU ARE LOVED BY MANY AND PLEASE PRAY FOR HES MOM AND ENTIRE FAMILY GONE TO SOON."

A family member who claims to be the teen's grandfather said his heart was so heavy, wondering if this was "a dream."

"My heart is so heavy right my grandson Tyre Sampson just passed away he had just got accepted to East Side High School he had so so so many plans this is unbelievable this gotta be a dream He's gone my grandson is gone," the man wrote.

Youth football coach Jones confirmed to News6 that the young teen was set to be the starting offensive lineman at East St Louis High School in the fall.

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AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING TRAGIC DEATH

In a press conference on Friday, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said preliminary information suggests the incident appeared to be an accident.

However, Mina confirmed an investigation is still open to determine the cause of the mishap but reiterated that it "appears to be a tragic situation."

"It does appear to be just a tragic situation. So, all that is being looked at. Our role in this situation is to determine whether or not this is an accident or intentional act, and this does appear to be a terrible tragedy," the sheriff said.

Mina also spoke about the gruesome video on social media that shows the young man's final moments.

Moments before the incident, an operator seemed to have some confusion about whether or not those on board were wearing seatbelts.

"That's something the Department of Agriculture will certainly look at and obviously we'll look at that as we make a determination if this was accidental or not," Mina added.

ICON PARK ISSUES A STATEMENT

ICON Park released a statement on Friday: "A tragedy occurred last night at the Orlando FreeFall and our hearts are heavy with sadness.

"The owner of the attraction is fully cooperating with authorities and ICON Park is doing everything we can to assist.

"The Orlando FreeFall will be closed pending a full investigation. Other businesses at ICON Park are scheduled to be open during their normal business hours."

The Orlando Free Fall stands at 430 feet, and a maximum of 30 thrill-seekers can go on the ride.

It's not clear how many riders were on the amusement park attraction during Thursday's incident.

It's the world's tallest free-standing drop tower, according to the ICON Park website.

Thrillseekers are rotated around a tower as they rise up into the air.

They are then tilted at a 30-degree angle before plunging nearly 400 feet at speeds of around 75mph.

A spokesperson for the Slingshot Group of Companies, which owns the ride, confirmed the teenager was in a safety harness, adding that staff "operate the ride with all the safety precaution in mind."

The Orlando Free Fall ride opened on December 28 last year.

ICON Park is also home to the Orlando Slingshot - the tallest slingshot ride in the world.

And, the theme park's StarFlyer attraction claims to be the world's tallest swing ride.

Jacob Kaminsky, 21, fell to his death while inspecting the ride in September 2020.

He was climbing up the tower part of the ride as he carried out a safety check, according to the 

But, Kaminsky fell backwards onto a platform below.

CEO of the Slingshot Group, Ritchie Armstrong, said in a statement: "We are heartbroken by the loss of Tyre Sampson and absolutely devastated for his family and loved ones.

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"We have suspended the operations of the Free Fall ride and the Slingshot ride at Icon Park.

"We are fully cooperating with the authorities at the state and local levels who are investigating this tragic incident. We plan on providing additional information in the coming days, as we learn more."