A Florida jury has awarded $310 million to the family of Tyre Sampson – the 14-year-old boy who tragically fell to his death from a drop ride at an Orlando theme park in 2022.

The staggering verdict holds the ride’s manufacturer, Funtime Handels GMBH, accountable for what the family’s lawyers called catastrophic safety failures and negligence.

Tyre Sampson died at the age of 14 following a tragic fall. Credit: Facebook

Tyre, who was visiting ICON Park with his football team during spring break, was 43kg (94lbs) over the ride’s 129kg (285lbs) weight limit when he plummeted 30 meters (98 feet) from the FreeFall drop ride.

The ride, which lacked seat belts, failed to prevent him from slipping out of his harness, BBC News reports.

At the time of his death, the teen’s father, Yarnell Sampson, spoke to WESH 2 about the moment he saw the video on social media, telling the outlet: “It felt like somebody hit me so hard in my stomach. I just lost, I lost, lost wind.”

“And the pain behind it could never be taken away — and sorry’s not gonna take it back and no monies, no nothing in the world to replace the young man. And it’s just sad, a young man’s bright future was taken away from him over a ride, an amusement park,” he added.

The Austrian manufacturer, Funtime Handels GMBH, neither appeared in court nor had legal representation, according to court records.

Credit: FOX 2/YouTube

The jury determined the $310 million payout would compensate Tyre’s parents for the pain and suffering they endured following their son’s untimely death.

“Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits,” the family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, said after the verdict.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to legislative reforms. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Tyre Sampson Act in May 2023, introducing stricter safety regulations for amusement rides, including mandatory seat belts and enhanced harness systems for rides exceeding 100 feet.

In March 2022, Tyre’s parents filed a civil suit against multiple parties involved with the ride. While the latest verdict targets the manufacturer, the family reached undisclosed settlements last year with Eagle Drop Slingshot, the ride’s owner, and ICON Park, where the attraction was located.

Tyre’s death left an indelible mark on his family and community. His uncle, Carl Sampson, described him as a “really good kid” and “very intelligent”.

The tragedy has also become a rallying point for corporate accountability. “This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products,” Crump said.

Although the verdict can never bring Tyre back, his family hopes the reforms inspired by his death will prevent future tragedies in theme parks across the country.