The autopsy of a teen who died after falling from an Orlando amusement park ride showed the horrific extent of his injuries and that he was 96 pounds over the ride's weight limit, according to the New York Post.
The report released on Monday, June 13, found that Tyre Sampson suffered internal injuries and trauma to his head, neck, and torso after plunging from the FreeFall attraction at ICON Park back in March.
The autopsy also documented the 14-year-old's weight at 383 pounds, well over the ride's weight limit of 287 pounds. A manual for the attraction states, "Be careful when seeing if large guests fit into the seats. Check that they fit within the contours of the seat and the bracket fits properly. If this is not so - Do not let this person ride."
Sampson slipped out of FreeFall's safety harness
Officials said Sampson slipped out of the ride's safety harness before hurtling to the concrete in front of shocked onlookers in the amusement park. The football standout's death was caught on video and quickly went viral, according to Spectrum News.
The teen boy was visiting Florida from Missouri and staying with family and friends. Authorities had determined that someone adjusted his harness before the ride started to allow him to fit into the seat.
Sampson's family is suing several parties involved in the accident, arguing that the teen's death was preventable. Tyre's friends told investigators that he had already been turned away from other rides the day of his death because of his size.
The Office of the Medical Examiner in Orange County ruled Sampson's death as an accident. He died of blunt force trauma, with Sampson suffering extensive injuries, including a fractured jaw, a broken arm, a broken leg, and fractures of several ribs.
A routine drug screen was also done on Sampson during the autopsy, and the result was negative for the presence of drugs. The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. on March 24 when Sampson and his friends, who were all visiting from St. Louis, boarded the 430-foot tall Free Fall ride.
Sampson slipped through the 7-inch gap between the seat and safety harness
The autopsy report confirmed that Sampson was more than 6 feet tall. WESH reported that the manufacturer recommended a maximum rider weight of 287 pounds for the FreeFall.
An investigative report completed on April 18 by a private engineering firm hired by the state of Florida indicated that Sampson slipped through a seven-inch gap between his seat and safety harness. The field investigation also confirmed that the ride operator made manual adjustments to the riding harness, resulting in it being unsafe.
Kim Wald, an attorney for the Sampson family, issued a statement, saying, "So this medical examiner's report confirms that Tyre was 97 pounds over the maximum requirement and he never, never should have been able to be on that ride in the first place."
