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Ft. Campbell boy dies after riding Disney World roller coaster (Father member of 5th Spec'l Forces)
WKRN Nashville and Associated Press ^ | June 29, 2006 | Travis Reed and Kelli Kennedy

Posted on 06/30/2006 12:47:57 AM PDT by bd476

WKRN Nashville

June 29, 2006, 11:30 pm

(AP) Ft. Campbell boy dies after riding Disney World roller coaster

By TRAVIS REED
Associated Press Writer
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.


A 12-year-old Kentucky boy died after riding a roller coaster Thursday at the Disney-MGM theme park, the latest in a string of tragedies that have stung Walt Disney World in recent years.

Michael Russell of Fort Campbell had ridden the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster with his parents and 7-year-old brother.

When the minute-long ride was finished, the father noticed his son was limp. Byron Russell pulled Michael off the ride and started to perform CPR until paramedics arrived, said Barbara Miller, Orange County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

The boy was pronounced dead after he was taken by ambulance to Celebration Hospital at about 11:30 a.m., Disney said in a statement. No cause of death could be immediately determined.

"According to the family, he was a very healthy child," Miller said. "The father repeated that he was healthy, he had no problems."

The boy's father is a member of the 5th Special Forces Group based at the Army post straddling the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

State officials say he is the ninth person to die at Disney World since 2003. At least 15 people have died at Disney's two theme parks in Florida and California since 1989. At least some of the victims had pre-existing health conditions.

Disney said a preliminary investigation showed the roller coaster was operating normally, but the company closed it pending full results. The attraction, which blasts riders from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and through high-speed loops, requires that guests must be at least four-feet tall.

Florida law exempts large, permanent amusement parks that have their own safety inspectors from state oversight, but Disney invited the Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection to monitor the review, the company said.

The sheriff's office was investigating at the scene and state park safety officials were notified.

"Our deepest concerns are with the family," Disneyspokesman Jacob DiPietre said. "Disney cast members are with them providing any assistance that we can provide."

Most of Disney's recent troubles have been over another ride _ Epcot's "Mission: Space," a rocketship attraction that simulates a flight to Mars. Two people have died in the last 12 months after going on the ride, which spins in a centrifuge that subjects riders to twice the normal force of gravity. Disney has since unveiled a tamer version that does not spin.

Daudi Bamuwamye, 4, of Sellersville, Pa., died June 13, 2005 of an irregular heartbeat linked to an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle that can cause sudden death, an autopsy showed. His family earlier this month filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Disney seeking unspecified damages.

In April, a 49-year-old woman from Germany became ill and died after the ride. A medical examiner's report said she died from bleeding of the brain and had severe, long-standing high blood pressure.

Some of the other deaths include:

_ A 12-year-old from Newport News, Va., died after she collapsed at Typhoon Lagoon water park last August. Medical officials determined Jerra Kirby died from arrhythmia caused by an early stage viral heart infection.

_ A Disney worker dressed as Pluto was run over and killed by a float as itentered a Magic Kingdom parade in 2004.

Additionally, a 16-year-old British girl suffered cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated shortly after she rode "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" at Disney-MGM last year. She remained in critical condition months later and had to be flown home by air ambulance.

Tourists at MGM Thursday told the Orlando Sentinel the death made them concerned about the rides.

"It seems like things have changed a lot in respect to safety. I'll tell you I'm not surprised that this has happened," Larry Wagner, of Louisiana, said.

Eugena Pruitt, of Virginia, said three deaths in one year was higher than average.

"They should inspect and find out what is causing the deaths," Pruitt said.

Theme park consultants told The Associated Press the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster was fairly tame.

"As roller coasters go that is not considered an ultra, ultra high-thrill coaster. It does have some high launch speeds, but it's more along the traditional lines of what roller coasters are today," said David Speigel, president of Cincinnati-based International Theme Park Services Inc. "I would have to classify this as an anomaly, highly unusual and certainly out of sorts for Disney."

Orlando-based theme park consultant Steve Baker said he didn't think the recentdeaths would deter tourists from visiting Disney.

"I think people are going to be concerned, but I don't think it's going to make people change their vacation plans," said Baker, president of Baker Leisure Group Inc.

"That roller coaster is not an extreme roller coaster."

___

Associated Press Writer Kelli Kennedy in Miami contributed to this report.



TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: Florida; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: disney; disneyworld; rollercoaster
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To: Eye of Unk

It is very sad. Continuing prayers for the boy's family.


21 posted on 06/30/2006 2:35:00 AM PDT by bd476
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To: bd476
This is one of the mildest roller coasters I've ever riden. Certainly nothing like this one. IMO, these incidents make more news just because it's Disney World.
22 posted on 06/30/2006 2:54:39 AM PDT by PogySailor
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To: bd476
We live in the Tampa Bay area and there's a new ride at Busch Gardens that my son and husband are crazy about (it takes a 90 degree plunge from 200 ft). I looked up the description of the ride, and it doesn't offer the Gforces, but I did notice there is a height restriction significance between the ride at Disney and the ride at Busch. I often wonder (since many of the kids who die on these rides are younger) if they shouldn't raise the height restriction. Here's a description of that ride and the height of the rider must be 54 inches...6 inches difference seems pretty significant to me.

The name SheiKra evokes the power and speed of an African hawk as it twists and plunges - giving riders a 70 mph, adrenaline-pumping experience like no other. At 200 feet, SheiKra now takes the crown as Florida's tallest roller coaster. This thrill machine is also the tallest dive coaster in the world and the first of its kind to incorporate an Immelmann loop (a rolling maneuver), a second, 138-foot dive into an underground tunnel and a water-feature finale. SheiKra offers three minutes of over-the-edge excitement on more than half a mile of steel track. You must be 54 inches tall to ride SheiKra.

23 posted on 06/30/2006 3:01:07 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: bd476

Don't know where these folks are from but on thing many people from up north forget is that its hot in Florida. Sounds trite but the combination of heat, humidity, and sun can get a lot of people off guard. The parks are especially hard because of the crowds and other factors they bring in.


24 posted on 06/30/2006 3:55:39 AM PDT by driftdiver
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To: Eye of Unk

Mission Space is at a different park. Most people dont make 2 parks on the same day so I doubt this is true.

Mission Space is at Epcot.


25 posted on 06/30/2006 6:17:14 AM PDT by alisasny (Cynthia McKinny..INTERNATIONAL BLACK FEMALE CONGRESSPERSON OF MYSTERY)
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To: Jeff Chandler
A Disney worker dressed as Pluto was run over and killed by a float as itentered a Magic Kingdom parade in 2004.

I know I shouldn't laugh but this reminds me of Chuckles the Clown being shelled to death by an elephant.
26 posted on 06/30/2006 6:36:20 AM PDT by Republican Red (Everyone is super stoked on Gore, even if they don't know it)
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To: bd476

So sad. It could have been hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic290.htm

"Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disorder that typically is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion with variable penetrance and variable expressivity. The disease has complex symptomatology and potentially devastating consequences for patients and their families. The disorder has a variable presentation and carries a high incidence of sudden death. In fact, HCM is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in both preadolescent and adolescent children."


27 posted on 06/30/2006 6:38:30 AM PDT by AmericaUnite
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To: Republican Red

"A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants".


28 posted on 06/30/2006 6:40:35 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: alisasny

I was just there a couple of weeks ago and my wife and I got the "park hopper" ticket. We rode both these rides the same day (as well as the safari!).


29 posted on 06/30/2006 6:41:52 AM PDT by Theo
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To: PogySailor
"This is one of the mildest roller coasters I've ever riden."

I rode this one several times. I agree with you. The incredibly fast acceleration at the start is a surprise, but not unlike a burnout in a sportscar. Other than it being fast paced, it's rather tame. I have to believe there was some medical condition that contributed to his death. Sad.
30 posted on 06/30/2006 6:47:00 AM PDT by jaydubya2
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To: knarf

knarf said, "We are becoming a soft people."
The boy may have had a heart defect or something but I do not believe that the son of a member of the 5th Special Forces group would be soft. I knew some of these guys when I lived in Clarksville, they do not raise there children to be soft.


31 posted on 06/30/2006 6:51:47 AM PDT by The Southern Right Winger
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To: AmericaUnite
That was the first thing that I thought when I heard this news report. My father was diagnosed a few months ago with HCM so I've done some research on it and finding that it is genetic I went and had all the testing done on myself to see if I also had this, luckily I don't.

Tragic that these kids just drop dead during sports etc. with no previous history. The ones that are lucky are the ones that have been able to find out ahead of time so that can have the surgery to have the defibrillators put in before something happens.

I have an almost 12 year old son and I can't begin to imagine the pain that the family must be going through.

32 posted on 06/30/2006 7:05:35 AM PDT by mykdsmom (We can NEVER out Democrat the Democrats!)
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To: RunningWolf
If the G forces/inertia etc., can all coincide to stop your breathing long enough for you to go unconscious, it could be all over for you.

that would be blacking out and is not usually fatal. Even unconscious people know how to breath. And people can survive minutes without breathing.
33 posted on 06/30/2006 7:12:06 AM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: Eye of Unk
I question that rumor.

Mission Space is at Epcot and Rock and Roll Roller Coaster is at Disney MGM. While it's possible they rode Mission Space then left Epcot to make the long (in terms of time to get there) trip to Disney/MGM it really is pretty unlikely.
34 posted on 06/30/2006 7:16:40 AM PDT by Artemis Webb
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To: PogySailor

I agree. I rode it two weeks ago and it did not impress me. I also rode the Mars mission prior to it and it was a big yawn. The new ride Everest was a disappointment. Space Mountain still is the king of the hill at Disney.


35 posted on 06/30/2006 7:26:59 AM PDT by reagandemo (The battle is near are you ready for the sacrifice?)
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To: RunningWolf
If the G forces/inertia etc., can all coincide to stop your breathing long enough for you to go unconscious,

The 5 Gs (which I'd question) is not even long enough to make you put your arm down. The acceleration, with a full neck support, is a couple of Gs far a few seconds at start-up.

36 posted on 06/30/2006 8:19:33 AM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: lepton; TalonDJ
I have not ridden any of these new machines, my experience was based on early/mid 1960's machines.
37 posted on 06/30/2006 8:21:42 AM PDT by RunningWolf (2-1 Cav 1975)
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To: lepton
is a couple of Gs far a few seconds at start-up.

Heck my '88 Lincoln will do that :P
38 posted on 06/30/2006 8:59:20 AM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: bd476

I did a search on the boy's name to see if they found out
why he died. Whoa, the first hit - a Sgt. 1st Class Michael Russell died in Afghanistan in a helicoptor crash June 28, 2005.

Eerie..


39 posted on 06/30/2006 9:18:25 AM PDT by Recall
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To: Recall; bd476

Autopsy: Boy at Disney had heart defect


By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer
8 minutes ago



LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The 12-year-old boy who died after riding a Walt Disney World roller coaster had a congenital heart defect, a medical examiner ruled Friday.


The autopsy of Michael Russell was done one day after he passed out while riding Disney-MGM's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. His father, an Iraq war veteran, performed CPR on the boy, but Michael was pronounced dead at a hospital.

"No evidence of injury was found but congenital heart abnormalities were detected, which will be further evaluated," the Orange County medical examiner's office said in a statement.

The cause of death was left pending until additional test are conducted, Dr. Sara H. Irrgang, an associate medical examiner, ruled.

Disney World reopened the coaster Friday after determining that nothing mechanical caused the boy's death. A Disney Web site description of the ride says: "Zoom from 0-60 mph with the force of a supersonic F-14, take in high-speed loops and turns synchronized to a specially recorded Aerosmith soundtrack."

"Walt Disney World engineers and ride system experts completed a thorough inspection of the attraction overnight and found it to be operating properly," the company said in a statement. "A representative from the state Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection observed the ride inspection and testing."

Disney and other large amusement parks are exempt from state oversight, but Disney has allowed government inspectors to watch after fatalities.

The boy's father, Byron Russell, noticed that Michael became limp while they rode the coaster along with his mother and 7-year-old brother. When the minute-long ride finished, Russell pulled Michael off and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, said Barbara Miller, Orange County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

Miller said Russell told officials that the boy was healthy and that the family didn't know of any underlying medical problems.

The company and military said they were assisting the family.

The father is a part of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Fort Campbell, Ky., and served in Iraq, said special forces Command spokesman Maj. Jim Gregory.

"You can't even put words to how devastating this would be," Gregory said.

Michael's death was the latest in a string of tragedies at Walt Disney World in recent years. At least 15 people have died at Disney's theme parks in Florida and California since 1989, including some with pre-existing health conditions. Disney-MGM is among Disney's four Florida parks.

Most of the company's recent troubles have been over another ride — Epcot's "Mission: Space," a rocketship attraction that simulates a flight to Mars.

Two people have died in the last year after going on the ride, which spins in a centrifuge that subjects riders to twice the normal force of gravity. Now Disney offers people an option to ride a tamer version of the ride that does not spin.


40 posted on 06/30/2006 11:26:55 AM PDT by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
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