A US court has ordered the parents of a 14-year-old boy who died at an amusement park to pay $310 million (approximately 1.256 billion zlotys) in compensation. The money will be paid by the manufacturer of the equipment where the accident occurred. Lawyers argued the boy's death was caused by a safety defect. The 14-year-old boy fell from a height of approximately 30 meters. He died at the hospital from his injuries.
On March 24, 2022, 14-year-old Tire Sampson was visiting Icon Park in Orlando with his football team. The boy decided to take advantage of the free-fall tower, which was touted to be the tallest attraction of its kind in the world, the BBC reported.
Gondolas in such towers rise to great heights and descend quickly. It is only at the very end of the descent that the brakes are applied and speed is lost.
Unfortunately, the boy fell from the chair at a height of about 30 meters and fell to the ground. There were no seat belts on the seats. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries, where he died.
The tower was temporarily closed after the accident. It was then completely dismantled.
Teenager dies at Florida amusement park. huge amount of compensation
An investigation and autopsy revealed that the boy was over the legal weight. Sampson's parents have filed a lawsuit that includes the attraction's manufacturer, the Austrian company Funtime Handels, alleging negligence and failing to ensure their child's safety.
A decision on the matter was taken on Thursday. A Florida jury found him guilty. The court ordered Sampson's family to pay $310 million in damages.
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“This ruling is a step forward in holding companies accountable for the safety of their products,” said family lawyer Ben Crump. He also emphasized that the judge's decision confirms what the boy's relatives have been saying for years.
“There was gross negligence and they prioritized profit over safety,” Crump claimed. Representatives of the defendant companies did not appear in court.
Previously, Sampson's family also sued the owners of Icon Amusement Park and Eagle Doron Slingshot Attraction. As stated on the portal, settlements were reached in these cases, but the amount was not disclosed.
In May 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Tire-Sampson Act, which strengthens safety standards for amusement parks.
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