14-year-old falls to his death from a drop tower ride
The Orlando FreeFall ride at ICON Park opened in January.
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14-year-old boy died after he fell Thursday night from a drop tower amusement ride that recently opened at the Orlando area's
ICON Park entertainment complex, authorities said.
Witnesses
said the boy fell from the Orlando FreeFall ride, described by its operators as the
world's tallest freestanding drop tower, the Orange County Sheriff's Office
said.
Deputies
were called to ICON Park around
11 p.m. The boy was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries, the
sheriff's office said.
"This
death investigation is in its very early stages," the office said in a
news release.
The
Orlando FreeFall opened in January, according to ICON Park's website. The ride
stands at 430 feet, making it the world's tallest freestanding drop tower, it
states.
The
attraction can carry up to 30 riders at a time, according to the park's online
description. "Once the ride vehicle reaches the top, it'll tilt forward 30
degrees and face the ground before free falling nearly 400 feet at speeds
reaching over 75 mph," the website says.
Details
about what led to the fall weren't immediately available.
CNN
has sought comment from park officials.
ICON
Park includes a variety of offerings, including rides such as a 400-foot-tall
observation wheel; Madame Tussauds
Orlando; and SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium.

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