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.
See post #40
the crawl on FNC just said the poor boy had a congenital heart defect.
That's such a sad and tragic way to learn about a heart defect. Is something like this ever detected or suspected during a routine physical?
BTW: Disney has an incredible medical facility underground. As they have so many ill children that visit the park, there are entrances to the med center scattered throughout the park.
Just damn. There has to be a higher meaning.
Height restriction may make a difference and is a good point, Dawn. Sadly they've been reporting today that the 12 year old had an undetected heart defect.
theDentist wrote: "the crawl on FNC just said the poor boy had a congenital heart defect."
Thanks. That's very sad news. I wonder now if parents will request screening tests and EKGs for their kids in annual check-ups. The percentages may be low but who would want to be among the small percentage?
Assuming that your screen name mirrors your occupation, how do congenital heart defects, mitral valve defects, etc. impact your practice? Do you ever have concerns that a patient might have an otherwise undetected heart problem?
Sad story. God Bless Michael and his family
Sick people who ride the rides when they shouldn't (even if they have no way of knowing it) is what's causing the deaths.
Stuff happens.
AmericaUnite wrote: "So sad. It could have been hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic290.htm "
Good call, AmericaUnite. TheDentist reported seeing the announcement that the 12 year old boy had a congenital heart defect in Post #42.
Thank you for the link to the info about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
deadhead wrote: "Sad story. God Bless Michael and his family."
The family will need prayers and moral support for a long time. God Bless them all.
driftdiver wrote: "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."
They were from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where the Father is a Green Beret.
You're right about the heat. Staying cool standing in line for hours takes its toll on everyone. Sometimes it seems as if it would be smarter to skip outdoor activity when it gets too hot.
Yes, they will, for the rest of their lives, so very sad. Losing a child has got to be the saddest of all. I hope they have a close, loving family and friends that will be there to support them. My prayers are with them.
Thanks for the update, BenLurkin. Prayers extended for the boy and his family.
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