Any Updates On Mission Space Death??

[Danthesand]

Four year old Daudi Bamuwamye, the child who died:

Within a day after the death, the regional media in Bucks, County, PA (where the Bamuwamye family lives) were reporting that several neighbors who knew the family said Daudi had been born prematurely and "has had health problems ever since." I also read several posts on another Disney board from a person who lives in that area in PA who said the local "buzz" was that the child did have a known history of breathing/lung issues (which is a known development risk among premature births).

 

[jlcbshaw]

the only other "intense" rides (for children) I can think of on Disney property would be:
Mission:Space
Rock n Rollercoaster
Tower of Terror
Space Mountain

and if they scare easily - Snow White. heheheh (that 'hag' in the begining scarse alot of young kids! hehehe)

One more to add is Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom. Of all of the rides mentioned, I think that Misson:Space is the most intense, all others are just kind of loud and fast paced (except for Snow White) and that can be frightening to younger children.

 

[stinkerbelle]

^^ thank you. Yes, I forgot Dinosaur.

 

[rockyroad]

Dinosaur is not really physically intense, but it could be really scary. Especially if the child does not fully understand the difference between reality and fantasy. If they can't watch Jurrasic Park comfortably, then no way. My son was under the recommended age when he saw that movie, but he wanted to see it and we prepared him by talking about how the dinosaurs in the movie are just pretend so he was fine. I might try the Ellen dino ride in Epcot first because it is much less intense.

Same thing goes for HM and Pirates. I would really spend a lot of time talking with the child about the difference between real and pretend.

 

[Luv2trav]

My sister told me she heard on TV the boy was having problems breathing earlier in the day?? I am not sure how much of that is true....

 

[elastigirlfan]

I am at a complete loss that someone would want to know why we care.

My thoughts exactly...

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

First, I think that everyone in their right mind was devastated to hear of this poor child's death. Not only for the family's grief and loss, but also for the fear that something like this could happen to one of us at the Happiest Place on Earth - where it feels no harm can come to you.

Second - many want to know WHY. I'm sure his parents, first and foremost - and Disney, a close second. We all want to feel that this isn't going to, or can't, happen to us (or our child). If we know the science behind it, it makes us feel empowerd and able to make an informed decision about our own safety, and the safety of our loved ones.

Regardless of this poor child's death, we should all be showing compassion for this family. God only knows if his mother reads these boards - or his cousin, or aunt, or whomever!!!! This is a community, for goodness sake!

Finally, we would not likely have allowed our four year old to ride. But, then again, we don't let the kids ride a lot of things that are "intense". My general rule of thumb is that if I can't ride it when I'm pregnant - it's not a good idea. (Carousel aside). BUT - with the safety restrictions being stated as they were, I could see how someone could innocently assume it would be safe for a small child.

It could take months to get back the pathology, particularly if trauma was not indicated at the intial preliminary autopsy. There are cellular/viral/microbial tests that need to be performed as well as genetic and chemical tests. Sometimes these things need time to grow/thrive in a petri dish before they can be detected and ruled out.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Why do you care why he died? He died. All deaths of four year olds are tragic. More than likely the ride triggered something. It was a complete accident, and for all of us except the family, and possibly disney it is over.

Wow. Jaded much??? That was kinda heartless of you, IMO. I apologize in advance if I'm gonna get in trouble for saying so.

 

[tinkerbelluk]

Unfortunately the results of the autopsy were said to take about 12 weeks according to the reports that were reported in florida on and after the date of this tragedy.

Having been on the ride earlier that day, i personally agree i would have not taken a four year old on this attraction, he could have easily died of shock, as unlike older children and adults if he didn't like the ride he wouldn't have been able to assure himself that it would be over in a few minutes instead panic would have taken over.

 

[jjarman]

I think knowing why the boy died is a psychological comfort in a way to us. We can then say, even subconsciously, oh, well, that child had something wrong with him to begin with. My child is healthy so he will be just fine.

 

[ScottieDog]

I'd like to offer the following....I have a ten+ year background in forensic pathology.

People can die of fright, but even than there's a pre-exiting condition....often a history of arrhythmia.

My guess for this poor child is a cerebral bleed. I've been on this ride and the first words out of my mouth after riding it were "that ride could soooo tear a vessel".

Simply put…four year old don’t die spontaneously. Disney & Mission space will be let off the hook. Said differently. While Mission Space may turn out to be the Immediate Cause the Mechanism of death will have a pre-existing rout.

Doesn’t make it any less sad!!!!

 

[ScottieDog]

Oh...as for the 12 weeks. While that does seem excessive my hunch is
1. they're being soooo careful. and
2. Some tissues need time to "fix" before they can be properly examined.

Cathryn~

 

[wall6363]

Why do you care why he died? He died. All deaths of four year olds are tragic. More than likely the ride triggered something. It was a complete accident, and for all of us except the family, and possibly disney it is over.

I agree all deaths to a 4 year old are tragic, this is exactly why I want to know, to maybe spare another child or anyone for that matter from dying on MS or any other amusement ride in the future, if this ride or any similiar ride is that dangerous, that death can occur,( and I am not saying this is the case here) we all should be forwarned. JMHO.

 

[Feralpeg]

The grandson of a man who worked for me in Kansas City died unexpectedly at age 2. The pathology tests took almost four months. They never could determine the cause of death. He was fine when he was put to bed for the night. In the morning, his mother found him dead.

They may never know for sure what actually caused this little boy's death either.

 

[lacy1101]

One of the assistant public advocates that regularly appears in the court where I work told me that her sister is a paramedic for Disney and was called to the scene of this incident. While she said it isn't public knowledge yet, the boy had an enlarged heart (3-4 times the size it was supposed to be). When he got scared and his heart started pumping so much blood, a vessel burst.

This is strictly what was told to me by a sister of a Disney paramedic. I haven't read this entire thread, but I'm sure there are several stories floating around by now, so feel free to take this one for what's it worth.

 

[nanalisa]

MS doesn't sound like a good ride for anyone with high blood pressure either. When I rode it during the soft opening in July 03, I could feel my blood pulsing in my head. I didn't feel sick, but I didn't like the way I felt. I'm not riding it again and my 8 yo dgd isn't going to either. It's a 4 minute ride, we survive without it. We loved WDW long before MS was built.

 

[CaseyJr]

Danthesand, thanks for the photo! What an adorable child!

My own DS is almost 10, and short for his age. For that reason, he's had to wait longer to ride some attractions with strict height requirements, so that hasn't been a real issue with us. However, I "measure" him as much by his maturity level as I do by his physical height.

I've tried to put myself in that situation, and I'm curious, if anyone knows (I'm not trying to place blame anywhere, just trying to figure out the scenario in my own mind....): when the Mom exited the ride with her son, she knew he was unconscious, but did she have any idea HOW seriously ill he was at that time? Did she take him all the way outside and did she stop and alert anyone (the public or a CM?) that she needed help? It sounded like she got him all the way outside before help came (if you've ridden MS, you know the distances involved).

 

[Poohbear123]

What happened with the Autopsy. Thanks for starting this post, I didn't have the nerve to. As far as his mediacl condition earlier, I would NOT have let my child ride MS if they were not feeling good earlier in the day. Besides, 4 is STILL too young to ride that particular ride.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I can't imagine what that family is going through. It's very sad when a life is cut short. I was wondering what happened too. It's only natural when a young person dies, to want to know why. I had never seen his picture before. That just makes it hit home even more, knowing what he looked like. Poor baby.

 

[fishinChip]

Last week while entering the ride behind a family with a young/small child, I overheard one CM tell another that he thought parents were bringing too small children on this ride.Any child dying is one too many.Not to say that the ride was to fault,but perhaps they should raise the height requirements on this ride.