Girl Critical After Riding Disney's 'Tower Of Terror' Ride

[BRERALEX]

Girl Critical After Riding Disney's 'Tower Of Terror' Ride 13 minutes ago
YAHOO


A 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after riding the "Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror" ride at Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, according to Local 6 News.




Officials said a girl from Britain exited the ride Tuesday at about 9:50 a.m. and complained that she was not feeling well, Local 6 News reported.

She sat down with her mother in the theme park but her condition reportedly continued to worsen.

Disney medics came out and treated her and she was transported to Celebration Hospital where she was unresponsive, Local 6 News learned.

Orange County Sheriff's Office will be investigating, Local 6 News reported.

In June, a 4-year-old boy died after passing out while aboard Walt Disney World's "Mission: Space" attraction -- an Epcot ride that has caused previous concerns because of its intensity.

On the ride, guests are seated aboard a "freight elevator" that glides through mysterious hotel passageways.

As the journey progresses, the elevator enters a pitch-black shaft and launches guests skyward unexpectedly.

The vehicle then plunges 13 stories.

The elevator abruptly rises once more, with an unpredictable series of shorter drops and climbs. At one point, the doors of the elevator open to reveal the Disney-MGM Studios.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

[BRERALEX]

Girl In Surgery After Riding Disney-MGM Attraction 28 minutes ago



A teenager from the United Kingdom had to be transported to a hospital Tuesday after riding an attraction at Disney-MGM Studios.



The girl said she wasn't feeling well after riding Tower of Terror, WESH 2 News reported.

Officials said the unidentified victim complained of a headache, and rescue crews were called.

The girl was transported to the hospital, and officials said her condition worsened. She is undergoing surgery at this time.

Disney officials have closed the attraction.

Stay with WESH 2 News and WESH.com for further details.

[Shinji]

Didn't the report also say smothing like ...

A medical examiner's report said Land who was in poor health from diabetes and several ministrokes and her death "was not unexpected."

How bad off could she have been for such a tame ride to be fatal? Regardless of her poor health condition, this is sad news.

[PrincessShea]

That is really sad. It was probably an aneurysm or something like that, which the ride coincidentally triggered. I hope this ends well.

[raidermatt]

From a Reuters report:

Sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said Deacon went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated by rescue workers. He said he did not know the nature of the ailment, which required the attention of a neurosurgeon.

"The ride has been closed awaiting more information," Disney World, a unit of the Walt Disney Co said in a statement. "The Orange County Sheriff's Office concluded an initial investigation and found no indication of a ride malfunction."

[jodistar]

I hope this ends well.

Me too!

[DebbieB]

Didn't the report also say smothing like ...

A medical examiner's report said Land who was in poor health from diabetes and several ministrokes and her death "was not unexpected."

How bad off could she have been for such a tame ride to be fatal? Regardless of her poor health condition, this is sad news.

That was the 78 year old woman who collapsed on Pirates of the Carribean, not the 16 year old from today. I was confused when I first read it too.

[Feralpeg]

Local news has reported that the girl was feeling bad before they entered the park. She has since had brain surgery and is in critical condition.

[ohanafamily]

OMG, how terrible. PD...


I wonder why someone in that poor of health would ride TOT anyway???

BTW, any more news on the 4YO on M:S???

:jumping2:

[ckckc2000]

Sounds like she had a pre-existing condition that TOT aggrevated :sad2: -and a lot of times these things-like brain aneurysm-don't show up until times like this(I see kids come into our PICU with the same thing) Sending prayers that they caught this before it ruptured! And she most likely didn't have a heart attack-sounds like a respiratory arrest (kids hearts are usually too healthy for that) So sad for this girl :guilty:

[stemikger]

Very sad,

Sending her and her family prayers.

[AmyAllan&Eve]

Maybe it's a blessing that she was at WDW, because medical attention is so readily available there. I pray for her as well.

[CarnotaurDad]

Our prayers go out to her and her family. My mother had to go to Celebration Hospital last summer and it is a fantastic facility. She will get the attention she needs!

[toddp3]

Orlando Sentinel has an updated article:

Teen critical after Terror ride (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/yahoo/orl-loctowerofterror13071305jul13,0,7241338.story?coll =orl-newsaol-headlines)

They did find some issues with the ride, but it seems questionable as to if they had anything to do with what happened. She underwent surgery from a specialist at Florida Hospital - that usually indicates a pre-existing condition, one that she may not have known about.

[peter11435]

Orlando Sentinel has an updated article:

Teen critical after Terror ride (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/yahoo/orl-loctowerofterror13071305jul13,0,7241338.story?coll =orl-newsaol-headlines)

They did find some issues with the ride, but it seems questionable as to if they had anything to do with what happened. She underwent surgery from a specialist at Florida Hospital - that usually indicates a pre-existing condition, one that she may not have known about.
No they did not, I do not know where you read in the article that they found issues with the ride. But they did not, and the article does not say they did.

[toddp3]

Ah... I just misread. Journalists like to use misplaced modifiers.

There is a line that reads they replaced bolts, but that had to do with a prior accident. Its just poor writing as it should not have been a separate paragraph if it had to deal with the preceeding one, as the theme is not carried.

My bad, of course its the journalists bad writing really.

[peter11435]

Ah... I just misread. Journalists like to use misplaced modifiers.

There is a line that reads they replaced bolts, but that had to do with a prior accident. Its just poor writing as it should not have been a separate paragraph if it had to deal with the preceeding one, as the theme is not carried.

My bad, of course its the journalists bad writing really.
Ah , I see.

[BRERALEX]

Disney World Reopens 'Tower of Terror' By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 43 minutes ago



ORLANDO, Fla. - Disney World on Wednesday reopened a thrill ride that was closed when a 16-year-old British girl almost died of cardiac arrest after riding it.


Disney had invited an official from the state Bureau of Fair Rides and Exhibitions to monitor a Tuesday night inspection of the "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror," which the park doesn't typically do.

Florida's major theme parks are not directly regulated by the state, and instead have their own inspectors.

Leanne Deacon, of Kibworth, England, remained in critical condition Wednesday after suffering cardiac arrest Tuesday minutes after exiting the attraction, which depicts a haunted elevator ride that plunges more than 100 feet.

Deacon's illness came a month after a 4-year-old Pennsylvania boy, Daudi Bamuwamye, died after riding another Disney World attraction, Epcot's "Mission: Space." That ride is so intense that it has motion sickness bags and several riders have been treated for chest pain. An elderly, diabetic woman also died in February after riding the Magic Kingdom's "Pirates of the Caribbean," but the medical examiner said her death "was not unexpected."

Officials didn't release precise details of what happened to Deacon, but police said she felt nauseous and dizzy after leaving the Tower of Terror.

She thought she'd quickly recover, but park workers who noticed her called in an emergency crew anyway. Before she got to the hospital her condition deteriorated so rapidly that her heart stopped beating and she had to be resuscitated, Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said. A witness who called 911 said Deacon was shaking badly.

On the Tower of Terror, decorated as a haunted hotel, riders are placed in an elevator that shoots up 13 stories and then plummets back twice. Disney warns riders that they should be "in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure." Pregnant women are advised not to ride.

[Dznefreek]

People die all the time; at the movies, concerts, sporting events and yes even theme parks. Mention death at WDW and people go nuts. It is no more a story than any other death.

[TessiePooh71]

I was at WDW this past weekend (until today) and a lady collapsed in our hotel and had a seizure- they think because she didn't have enough water. Scary about the 16 year old because in a lot of cases, a preexisting condition can lie dormant for years. I also am a firm believer that someone can die of fright. (the literature backs this also) I saw so many parents this weekend dragging reluctant and in some cases, downright petrified,children on rides. Selfish, selfish, selfish! I personally don't believe that anyone under the age of 12 should be allowed on Mission: Space. Also, so many people don't read the signs posted outside of the attraction. Dinosaur! is a good example-many little kids go in smiling and end up being carried out of that ride in hysterics. Common sense seems to be in short supply these days :sad2: P.S. Rode Mission: Space for the first time on Monday and loved it!

[tjkraz]

I saw so many parents this weekend dragging reluctant and in some cases, downright petrified,children on rides. Selfish, selfish, selfish!

Several months ago our family was at the Magic Kingdom. Our son, who was a couple months shy of his 4th bithday, was relucatant to go on Splash Mountain. For months he'd talked about the ride based upon photos and guidebooks, but as we stood outside and asked him if he was ready, he kept saying "no, I don't want to."

My mother, who had accompanied us on the trip, looked at me and said "oh, just take him."

We went on the ride. He loved it.

1. Why, exactly, does that make us "selfish, selfish, selfish?"

2. Why does it automatically make someone a bad parent ("selfish", lacking in "common sense") if they misjudge their child's reaction to a theme park attraction? When you see a child throwing a tantrum in a store because he/she cannot get a new toy, does that mean the parent was "selfish" for even taking the child to the store in the first place? If a child refuses to eat his/her dinner at a restaurant, does that mean the parent is short on common sense for ordering the unwanted entree?

[stemikger]

Originally quoted by Tessiepooh71
was at WDW this past weekend (until today) and a lady collapsed in our hotel and had a seizure- they think because she didn't have enough water. Scary about the 16 year old because in a lot of cases, a preexisting condition can lie dormant for years. I also am a firm believer that someone can die of fright. (the literature backs this also) I saw so many parents this weekend dragging reluctant and in some cases, downright petrified,children on rides. Selfish, selfish, selfish! I personally don't believe that anyone under the age of 12 should be allowed on Mission: Space. Also, so many people don't read the signs posted outside of the attraction. Dinosaur! is a good example-many little kids go in smiling and end up being carried out of that ride in hysterics. Common sense seems to be in short supply these days P.S. Rode Mission: Space for the first time on Monday and loved it!

I think you are generalizing way too much here. Last year my 10 year old daughter refused to go on Splash Mountain and TOT. Me and my wife forced her to go on. Why? Because both of us already went on these rides and as responsible parents knew that she could handle it and would probably love it. Splash Mountain she liked, but TOT she LOVED. In fact when we got off we had to go right back on because she was so into it. There was no line so that was easy. My wife wanted to take her on Rock and Roll Roller Coaster, but neither one of us went on it yet. I tested it first and decided it would be too intense for her, so I decided against it.

I think most parents know what their kids could handle and sometimes force them to try something they know they are going to like. I'm glad I encouraged my daughter to experience these rides, because she still talks about the great experience she had.

Now tell me how does that make us selfish parents. We could have easily done the child swap and go on ourselves.

[TessiePooh71]

Wow, I didn't realize that this post would hit so many nerves. I stand by what I said though. The fact remains that if someone does not want to go on a ride they should not be forced. I think many parents(and I'm not saying you in particular) figure that they have spent a lot of time and money to take their child to WDW. They get aggravated when the child does not want to go on a particular ride or attraction. I saw this myself: parents saying such things as "Goddammit, I paid good money to take you here-you're going on this ride" or " don't be ungrateful" or accusing the child of being"chicken" I'm glad that none of your children seemed to be adversely affected, but I still don't agree with dragging your kid on a ride if he doesn't want to go-and you do. That is selfish. You may know your child well, but you still never know how someone will react. Many people return to WDW quite a few times-plenty of chances for a timid child to work up their courage and try something new. We still don't know what killed that little boy(I heard he was a preemie when he was born and had health problems) but how sad would that be if it turned out he didn't want to go on the ride and was made to? I know people will be foaming at the mouth over that last statement but it's just a hypothetical question. You're right- most kids will end up fine, but why force them? Small children are still entitled to have an opinion and should be able to make a choice whether or not they want to participate. P.S I didn't say this made you a "bad parent". I said it showed a lack of judgement. I think many people look forward to taking their children to WDW so much that when things go wrong or the child is not into it at a particular time-they become very disappointed. I should have known that parents become very defensive when they think their parenting skills are being called into question :teeth: I am entitled to my opinion and you are entitled to yours. I just found myself thinking that these parents I saw berating their kids would be the first ones to complain or sue if something went wrong.They need to read the warnings and signs and many people(again, not pointing fingers at you) do not.

[tjkraz]

WI stand by what I said though. The fact remains that if someone does not want to go on a ride they should not be forced.

(snip)

I'm glad that none of your children seemed to be adversely affected, but I still don't agree with dragging your kid on a ride if he doesn't want to go-and you do. That is selfish. You may know your child well, but you still never know how someone will react.

Right, you DON'T know how someone will react in ANY situation. But our jobs as parents, friends, co-workers and members of the human race is to try and make the best judgement possible in any situation based upon our experiences and knowledge of the people involved.

Taking chances is part of life. Mistakes are part of life.

Should I prohibit my child from participating in team sports because of the chance of injury or death?

If my son says "I don't want to learn how to swim", am I horrible parent for forcing the issue? After all, he could drown...

We still don't know what killed that little boy(I heard he was a preemie when he was born and had health problems) but how sad would that be if it turned out he didn't want to go on the ride and was made to? I know people will be foaming at the mouth over that last statement but it's just a hypothetical question.

I'm curious about how you raise(d) your children? Did you wrap them in foam rubber and leave them in a padded room with soft toys?

The death on Mission Space was a terrible, terrible event. But guess what: Children die in bicycle accidents. Children die in swimming accidents. Children die eating hot dogs. Children die after tripping on the sidewalk in front of their house.

And, frankly, Walt Disney World has a better safety record than team sports, swimming, riding a bike or walking down the street. 40 million people visit Walt Disney World every year. How many deaths have occurred in which the ride was at fault?

I should have known that parents become very defensive when they think their parenting skills are being called into question :teeth: I am entitled to my opinion and you are entitled to yours.

What bothers me the most about this post is you sitting on high and judging people. Are there bad parents in the world? Of course there are. But you don't discriminate--it all looks the same to you. Crying child + Screaming parent = Selfish Parent w/ Bad Judgement

Next time you're forming these "opinions" about total strangers, just remember one thing: YOU are the most ignorant person in the equation.

I just found myself thinking that these parents I saw berating their kids would be the first ones to complain or sue if something went wrong.

Way to jump to conclusions!!! :rolleyes1

[WebmasterCricket]

Please don't make me pull this car over ;)

Everything has gone so smooth this week, can we please just keep it that way?

[TessiePooh71]

For the 2nd time, I did not call anyone a bad parent. Why are people getting so riled up over a difference of opinion? If the child wants to go on a ride and they are old enough or tall enough, no problem. If you actually were listening to my point, I stated that I had a real problem with 1) parents screaming at or putting down their child because they don't want to go on a ride and 2)Parents who fail to realize that children should have a say in the whole situation. It's their trip too and forcing your kid to go on a ride because you don't want to miss out shows a real lack of compassion and immaturity as well. And no, I don't "wrap my kids in bubblewrap". I also don't verbally abuse them, which I saw a lot of this weekend. I was noticing that there is an awful amount of intolerance on this board regarding difference in opinion. It's not everyone, but there is a small segment that immediately gets defensive and nasty whenever someone says something you don't agree with.(regarding the Mission:Space death in particular) How can anyone think that calling your child names or belittling them is reasonable? Again, this is my opinion, but I don't think a child should be taken to WDW until at least 7 or 8. It's too much stress on the parents-and being a parent, as we all know, is tough going sometimes. I'm aware that people make mistakes but I don't consider abusing your kid emotionally to be one of them. Now, before people start squealing in protest, I'm referring to the swearing at your kid and calling them names. That's wrong and we all know it. The forcing your child on a ride issue shows a lack of judgement. This is the last post I'm putting up here on this topic because evidently, people aren't reading what I have to say in an objective manner. I'm not going to change your mind and you're not going to change mine. I only hope that not everyone shows such a lack of empathy towards their kids like I saw this weekend-it was truly a sad thing.

[Luv2Roam]

http://www.local6.com/news/4723365/detail.html

:(

[Luv2Roam]

Another source I read stated this girl was athletic and even a runner. So she appears to have been in good physical shape, as far as anyone knows.
To me it sounds like she had a Brain Aneurysm. (Not that I know anything about Brain Aneurysms.)

From a Cedars Sinai web link:

Brain Aneurysm

A brain aneurysm is a weakness in the wall of an artery causing a pouch or a swelling in the blood vessel. The thin walls of an aneurysm can burst and cause bleeding into the tissues of the brain.

Symptoms

There usually are few symptoms of a brain aneurysm. Sometimes, brain aneurysms press on a nerve or leak small amounts of blood before a major rupture, thus producing warning signs. These symptoms, which can occur minutes to weeks before a rupture, include:

* Severe headache
* Facial pain
* Double vision, droopy eyelid or other vision problems

If you have these symptoms, you should see a doctor quickly so that steps can be taken to prevent a massive hemorrhage.

An actual rupture can produce the following symptoms:

* A sudden, severe headache
* A brief loss of consciousness that often follows the onset of the headache. Some people remain in a coma, but most often patients wake up feeling confused and sleepy. Within a few minutes or few hours, the patient may again begin to feel confused and sleepy.
* Vomiting
* Dizziness
* Frequent fluctuations in the heartbeat and breathing rate often occur
* Seizures
* Paralysis on one side of the body or neurologic problems (usually occuring in about 25% of the people who have subarachnoid hemorrhages)

Diagnosis

Because brain aneurysms are silent until they cause bleeding into the brain, a timely diagnosis can be difficult. The diagnosis of a subarachnoid hemorrhage can usually be made with a computed tomography (CT) scan. If the CT scan is not conclusive, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) can be done to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.

Approximately one-third of those who have a subarachnoid hemorrhage die during the hemorrhage because of extensive brain damage. Without proper treatment for the brain aneurysm, 20 to 30% will have a second bleed within the first month and those who survive three months have approximately a 3% chance every year of having another episode of bleeding. Recurrent bleeding has a 70% mortality rate. Because of the ominous prognosis with delayed definitive therapy, referral to a center of excellence with experience in treating subarachnoid hemorrhage is imperative.

Treatment

Symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage require emergency evaluation and treatment. If a subarachnoid hemorrhage is confirmed and the patient is medically and neurologically stable, members of the stroke team will confer about the timing and choice of the best diagnostic and treatment options. Usually, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), CT angiography (CTA) and/or contrast angiography are used to determine the exact size and location of the brain aneurysm. Depending on the results, an interventional radiology, neurosurgical or combination approach is chosen. It is critical to have doctors with the experience, judgment and technical know-how to make the right choices for each patient.



© Copyright 2000-2004 Cedars-Sinai Health System.

[BCV2003]

I have worked in a pediatric neurosurgery setting for 15 years. This truly sounds like she had some type of brain aneurysm or brain hemorrhage. JMO but I doubt that the ride contributed to problem. If it was an aneurysm that ruptured it could have just as easily have happened while she was sitting down have breakfast or lunch. I know healthy, active, young adults where that exact thing happened.

Thankfully, she seemed to get quick attention and hopefully she will have a full recovery. She may have even gotten faster medical attention being at Disney than she may have if she had been at say a shopping mall.

[Luv2Roam]

When I was in college there was a young (first year) NURSING student who left a classroom, sat in the hall because she felt ill, and died from a brain aneurysm.
She had been complaining of headaches.
So she was literally sitting, taking notes and listening to a lecture.

This makes me wonder what triggers one (beginning and erupting).

[spaceacewannabe]

Read somewhere that the girl had ridden the ride repeatedly that trip (maybe even that day?) with no problems until that point.
Also, there had been some confusion about ride malfunction---the ride did not operate properly, but the problem was the speed as it moved horizontally (not a big deal...I would bet a lot of ToT fans have probably been on it for minor issues like that without ever knowing it).

[saddison]

This makes me wonder what triggers one (beginning and erupting).

Luv2Roam,

Aneurisms are usually congenital, you are born with the weakened blood vessel and it just gets worse as you get older. Some people are fortunate enough to die from causes other than there aneurisms, and it is found only at autopsy (I've seen it, a 89 year old man who died of pneumonia). As for when one bursts, it's a roll of the dice. Sometimes stress can cause one to errupt, other times people are sleeping when they burst. My uncle literally had his burst while he was eating breakfast on a Saturday morning. Hope this answers your questions.

Sean

[mark&sue]

So hoping this poor girl gets better. Does anyone know if she would be well enough to undertake a long plane journey home if she improved enough to leave hospital.

I just cannot imagine what her family must be going through.



Susan