Tyre Sampson: Teen Was Turned Away From Two Other Rides, Cousin Says

Tyre Sampson, the teenager who tragically fell to his death on an amusement park ride, was turned away from two other rides prior to his death, his cousin says.

14-year-old Sampson fell from the 430-foot Orlando Free Fall ride at the ICON Park last week. The terrifying death was filmed and shared on social media, where Sampson could be seen falling to the ground from his seat.

According to an alleged accident report obtained by CNN, the teenager's seat on the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower ride was locked.

"Harness was still in a down and locked position when the ride stopped," the report stated.

However, Sampson's cousin, Shay Johnson, says she spoke with the teenager by phone just before he got on the FreeFall drop tower.

Johnson, who claims to have dropped Sampson off at the park, said he told her he wanted to ride the swing. 

"I said 'OK. Ride it twice and ride it for me, too,' " Johnson said in an interview with Spectrum News 13, "He called me back about seven minutes later. He said 'They said I'm too big. I can't ride'.

"He called me he say, 'They let me ride. I can ride. I can ride'. I didn't know it would be my last time talking to him alive. He just wanted to ride and have a good time."

SlingShot Group, who owns the ride, said its safety precautions mean it is only meant to operate if all riders are safely locked in.

Spokesperson John Stine told CBS News it's 'very difficult to say' what went wrong, adding: "The way the ride is designed, with all the safety features and redundancy, there shouldn't be an issue."

Last week, Sampson's father spoke out about his son's fears before the ride set off.

The 6'5" teenager, from Missouri, was on holiday in Orlando with friends through a football programme when he visited the amusement park, but dad Yarnell said his boy was worried about the ride before his tragic death.

Speaking to FOX 35, the father said: "He was panicking when he was going up. When the ride took off, that's when he was feeling uncomfortable. He was like, 'What's going on?'

"That's when he started freaking out, and he was explaining to his friend next to him, 'I don't know man. If I don't make it down, please tell my Mom and Daddy I love them.'

"For him to say something like that, he must have felt something."

He added: "This should never happen to anyone else's child ever again, and if I have anything to do with this, it will not happen ever again."

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677