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A Florida jury has ordered an amusement ride manufacturer pay $310m (\u00a3243m) to the family of a teenage boy who fell to his death on their drop ride at an Orlando theme park in 2022. <\/p>\n
Tyre Sampson weighed 43kg (94lbs) more than the ride’s 129kg limit, when he plunged 30m (98ft) from the ride, which had no seat belts. <\/p>\n
His family’s lawyers argued his death was a result of safety failures and negligence by the ride operators and maker.<\/p>\n
The Austrian manufacturer, Funtime Handels GMBH, did not send a representative to court and no lawyer was listed in the court records. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Tyre, 14, was visiting ICON theme park in Orlando with his American football team during spring break. <\/p>\n
After falling from the ride, he was taken to a nearby children’s hospital where he died from his injuries. <\/p>\n
In awarding damages this week, the jury said the amount was for the “pain and suffering as a result of Tyre Sampson’s injury and death”.<\/p>\n
“Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritise safety over profits,” the family’s lawyer, Ben Crump said. <\/p>\n
The damages have been split equally between Tyre’s mother and father, who launched the civil suit in March 2022, a month after their son’s death. <\/p>\n
Last year, they settled for an undisclosed amount with two other defendants, the ride’s owner, Eagle Drop Slingshot, and ICON Park, where it operated. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
At the time, Tyre’s uncle Carl Sampson described him as a “really good kid” and “very intelligent”. <\/p>\n
His death has prompted safety reforms in Florida, which is home to several of the country’s most famous amusement parks.<\/p>\n
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Tyre Simpson Act into law in May 2023.<\/p>\n
It strengthens the safety standards for theme park rides, including mandatory seat belts and harnesses for any ride taller than 100 feet (30m). <\/p>\n
“This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products,” Mr Crump said on Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n