(Trends Wide) — The parents of the teenager who died after falling from a ride at a Florida amusement park have hired attorneys seeking witnesses to the incident.
Tire Sampson, 14, of St. Louis, Missouri, died Thursday night after falling from the FreeFall skydiving tower at ICON Park in Orlando.
Investigators will determine if the incident was accidental or intentional, and based on an initial investigation, “it appears to be a terrible tragedy,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina said.
On Saturday, attorneys Ben Crump and Bob Hilliard said the boy’s parents had hired them separately. The lawyers ask anyone who has seen something to contact them.
“This family is shocked and heartbroken at the loss of their son,” Crump said. “This young man was the kind of son all parents expect: an honor roll student, an aspiring athlete, and a kind-hearted person who cared for others. Needless to say, his family is absolutely devastated.”
Hilliard said, “Families have a right to expect that these national theme parks, which make millions of dollars, will keep their children safe and put that safety above all else.”
The FreeFall takes riders to the top of a 400-foot tower, tilts them toward the ground, and falls at speeds of up to 75mph, says the ICON Park website. Operators call it the tallest freestanding drop tower in the world, the sheriff’s office said.
The attraction passed a safety inspection in December before it was allowed to open, according to a safety inspection report obtained by Trends Wide.
It is currently closed until further notice while the incident is investigated, and the company said it is working with the sheriff’s office and officials on a full investigation.
A video on social media purports to show the incident.
