Child's Death at Epcot

[dgaston]

We don't have enough information to know what caused this very unfortunate event. Hasn't it been very hot and humid in FL? I worry about things like dehydration, heat exhaustion, etc., too.

Prayers for his family and loved ones.

 

[RachelTori]

What a horrific tragedy. Our prayers to the family.

 

[marypops!]

i feel sorry for the family
i thought this ride was great but now i don't think i'll ride it next year

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I imagine he had a pre-existing condition and his death had nothing to do with his height. So sad.

 

[Leota]

My first thought was also an undiagnosed heart condition as well. How terribly, terribly tragic. My heart breaks for the family.

 

[peter11435]

I'm glad that it was found that he met the height requirements, but now I am starting to wonder how reliable height measurements really are. My DS6 is 45" inches tall, he would qualify to ride most of the rides, but he weighs maybe 42lbs at the most. I worry if the sfaety retraints in a ride are going to be tight enough for him. Maybe Space Mountain will have to wait until next year. A completely heartbreaking story, though.

This was on Mission: Space and not Space Mountain. On Mission: Space it does not really matter how tight the restraints are as they are mostly unneeded.

 

[26555]

I did a search in Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel and nothing. Do you have any links, perhaps to the tv station that's reporting this?
This is extremely sad.

Is Disney really able to keep things out of the paper? Seems so Big Brother. If a 4 year old died at a local amusement park it would be easy to spot in the local papers. So depressing, it will some time before I'm excited about Disney again and I'm going to steer clear of the more intense rides. So sad for the family.

 

[dmslush]

SO wonders if he got sick and possibly choked on his own vomit?

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Sending our prayers and thoughts to the family at this heartwrenching time...

I was going to ride MS for the first time this year, but I have a sporadic heart murmur, so I think I'll give it a pass. I haven't ever had a problem on a ride, but...

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

omg...i'm SHOCKED.....couldnt even imagine....keep us posted...

 

[3lilprincesses]

my initial reaction was also that this must have more to do with an illness and less to do with the ride. dehydration was my first thought.

let's all say a prayer for that family!

 

[Tishke]

My wife instinct is that there was some unknown heart condition. Time will tell.

I'm thinking you are right. There was probably an underlying health condition, maybe even unknown by the family, that was a factor in all of this. Does anyone know what time of the day it was? Maybe a long day of walking in the heat and the ride were just too much for a little boy's body to take. I'll be keeping the family in my thoughts.

 

[wdwdavem]

My prayers go out to the family I am a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) and we hear about a couple of deaths each year on thrill rides. Most are from pre-existing unknown conditions, however I don't wan't to speculate. If I get any information I will be sure to pass it on.

 

[Tishke]

This was on Mission: Space and not Space Mountain. On Mission: Space it does not really matter how tight the restraints are as they are mostly unneeded.

I know which ride it was, Peter, but it makes you think about putting a small child on any ride that is intense. To my son, who doesn't much care for coasters, Space Mountain would be intense. I know that most likely it was nothing with the ride itself that caused it, we are leaving for the parks in a little more than a week, and it definitely makes me rethink what rides are right for him.

 

[Lizzybee]

It is very sad and I do send my prayers to the family. We had a teen girl die at Six Flags near here on my favorite coaster. She was chewing gum and choked at the time. So sad, it never occured to me about gum until then.

 

[mickeysaver]

OMG, this is so so sad. My prayers to the family and CM's of Mission Space. Maggie

 

[Tishke]

I hate to speculate, but I am certain it had everything to do with the ride. Like most others feel, he probably had a pre-existing condition, but the ride obviously didn't help.

True, the ride probably didn't help. I've been to Disney more that 20 times, and I've never had a problem going on a ride. (Okay, so I am also a little bit of a chicken and I don't go on most of the coasters) But, this is my DS6 second trip and he wants to ride on big kid rides. Given that he will be walking around a lot in the heat and humidity and the fact that he has severe asthma, I am not going be crazy overprotective Mom and either have DH ride the ride first or save for another trip.

 

[rmontgo892]

My wife instinct is that there was some unknown heart condition. Time will tell.

Yeah...me too!

 

[TLC371]

What a sad story. I also have the feeling that there was some underlying (and probably unknown) health condition that was aggravated by the ride. I haven't been on the ride (I'm a chicken), but my boyfriend and his DD12 went on it and talked about how intense it was. My prayers go out to all those involved in this unfortunate accident.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...061405,0,779821.story?coll=orl-home-headlines