KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark has stepped in to help a Missouri family stricken by tragedy. 

Tyre Sampson was a 14-year-old who died in March after falling from a ride at ICON Park in Orlando. Tyre was on spring break and visiting the park with a friend’s family.

After hearing about the tragedy, Clark contacted the Berkeley, Missouri family earlier this week and offered to cover the costs of the funeral.

“When I heard of the tragic passing of Tyre Sampson, I knew I needed to do something to help his family. I can’t imagine the hurt and loss that his family and loved ones are experiencing,” Clark said on Instagram.

Tyre played football in high school and dreamed of playing in the NFL. So, in addition to helping with funeral expenses, the Frank Clark Family Foundation established the Tyre Sampson Scholarship Fund to benefit freshmen student-athletes from inner cities. 

“When talking with Nekia, Tyre’s mom, I had the pleasure of learning about the many accomplishments of Tyre,” Clark said. “His passion for football, basketball, how gentle his heart was and his big appetite for loving people. I made a promise to Nekia that Tyre’s legacy would live on.”

At 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 340 pounds, Tyre was reportedly not allowed to get on any other rides, leaving his family questioning why he was allowed on this one. 

“This one particular ride said, ‘We can take you. Come on, get on,’” Tyre’s father, Yarnell, told Fox 2 Now. “No one else allowed him to get on the ride. So, I’m wondering what happened between now and then that made them say, ‘Come on, get on this ride.’” 

A ride safety expert confirmed the weight limit for the ride was 287 pounds, and that Tyre should not have been allowed to get on. It was also found that the ride’s seatbelt was manually loosened and the teen was not properly secured. 

The family is suing several companies in a wrongful death suit.