A 14-year-old boy from Missouri fell to his death from a ride in Icon Park in Orlando, Florida on Thursday night, authorities said Friday.
Orange County Sheriff John W. Mina identified the boy as Dyer Sampson during an afternoon press conference.
Mina said the investigation is still at an early stage, but no charges have been filed and investigators are trying to find out how the boy fell and died.
“It looks like a terrible tragedy,” the sheriff said. “Our prayers and thoughts are with the family. We can not imagine what they are doing.”
According to Mina, the sheriff’s office will determine if Samson’s death was accidental. The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the agency that oversees the safety of the ride if compromised, he said.
Based on eyewitnesses who were on the ride, park staff and watching videos of the incident, Mina said there was no indication that anything was wrong with Sampson before he died.
The sheriff’s office said representatives responded to the Orlando Free Fall attraction at ICON Park just after 11pm on Thursday after receiving a 911 call.
“Witnesses at the scene said someone had fallen off the ride,” the company said.
Teenage children were taken to Arnold Health Arnold Palmer Hospital, where he died of his injuries, officials said.
“Words cannot describe how we feel,” said John Stein, director and sales director of the Slingshot Group of companies, which owns and directs Wright. “Our heart goes out to this young man’s family. That’s all we can say at this time.”
According to Icon Park’s websiteOrlando Free Fall Ride, a free-standing drop tower, stands at 430 feet and can accommodate up to 30 riders.
“We ride with all safety precautions in mind,” Stein said, adding that the boy was safe in a safety saddle at the time of the incident.
The ride, which is currently closed, “will be reopened when the appropriate time is available,” he said.
The park did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
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