Death at DW today

[Feralpeg]

A very sad incident.

What I don't understand is why there is such a rise in tragedies like this.
Were they not reported before - and why does it seem like it's just WDW recently? Are these just unfortunate coincidences?

So sad.

The number of people visiting WDW has increased over the past few years. Also, RnR, Mission Space, Tower Of Terror are all relatively new in the grand scheme of WDW. The more intense rides available, the greater chance people will die or become ill.

 

[safetymom]

I feel terrible for the family.

I don't think Disney has more incidents than anywhere else. It's just that they are well known world wide and make the news.

 

[Sonno]

Uh-oh - here comes the "conspiracy crowd."

Yep, Universal controls all the major newspapers and cable news networks. Child snatching at IOA and deaths on the Hulk are rampant, but you never hear about any of that because of "media coverups." And the online blogs/bulletin boards never report on thall those horrible events because Al Gore controls them (after all, he invented the internet... ) Yep, it's all anti-Disney conspiracy run by a big eastern syndicate......

Hey, com'on now. This isn't the time or the place.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

So so Sorry for the family of this boy. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to them.

 

[Feralpeg]

A local news station is saying there is some confusion about the age of the boy that died. It seems odd that CNN and such would have the correct age when then local stations don't. I guess we will just have to wait until the official report is released.

 

[daisax]

I think a big part of it is the 24 hour news cycle (an incident like this can fill 3-4 minutes -- very valuable when there's nothing else of interest going on)

I'm only 42, but when i was a kid there was a half hour of local news and a half hour of national news. 10 years before that it was 15 minutes of each.

Now many of us get breaking news emailed to us automatically, and rush to the computer when we hear something's happening.

I don't hear much about Universal here in Massachusetts, but it seems like somebody dies at 6 Flags every year, and usually because of mechanical problems or human (attendant) errors, not hidden medical conditions.

There's no use in doing physical exams in children to find these problems -- think of all the elite athletes who have died unexpectedly. For insurance purposes, they undergo extensive medical testing before signing professional league contracts that don't pick up the problem. Obviously if there's a family history or some clue that there might be a problem, sure you investigate.

But if you have a ticking time bomb of a heart, it could give out on you running at recess as much as whooping it up on a ride.

 

[sbpuckett]

This is so sad. I'm just waiting for my mother to call and lecture me about the rides and my boys. I think I'm going to add physicals to my "to do" list just before we go in October. Actually, both boys have physicals this summer, I'm going to request extra attention to their heart checks. I have noticed a lot more incidents of young adults having heart attacks and such in the past few years, mostly athletes though. Anyway... my heart definitely goes out to that family.

 

[shasess]

Hey, com'on now. This isn't the time or the place.

I agree...... not the time or the place.

My heart goes out to the family......How sad!

 

[Goobergal99]

This is so sad, how terrible for the family.

However, I wouldn't start rushing all your kiddles to the doctor just yet. The media loves to harp on these incidents, keeps everyone on their toes so they ignore the real issues.

 

[Ponkeo]

I know nothing could make this easier for the family - the unexpected death of a child is the most horrible thing that could happen to a family. I just want to say that children unfortunately do die, and the number of children at the park for the length of time they stay - well, sometimes one of those kids is gong to happen to be at WDW when it happens. Oh my two boys and how many times I let them ride these things against my instinct, but I know there was nothing these parents (and most likely Disney) could have done to prevent it.

 

[ChrisK]

My boss here at the office called be a couple of hours ago to tell me about this incident and I said the exact same thing! I don't thihnk there is a cover up - just that a) less people attend those parks and b) they break down on stop opperating in the rain. Case in point, I was over thre Sunday and we waited for about an hour to get on the Seuss Trolley, which was not running due to lightning in the area. We rode it (Hunk was not operating), and then went over to ride Spiderman & it was broken down! Just a thought...

and to the family.

<sarcasm>
Or maybe more unhealthy people visit Disney?
</sarcasm>

What does a ride stopping for weather or maintance/breakdown issues have to do with unreported injuries? How many of the outdoor Disney rides are running during rain and/or lightning?

 

[yankeepenny]

just rolled in the door and on the news.....

is there anything anyone can do?
I will keep that family in my thoughts.

 

[Seahunt]

Here's the latest info from the Orlando Sentinel - one thing I have to agree with the parents of the 4 year old who died after riding MS (who are now suing) are asking for defibrillators to be stationed near all these rides with at least one CM trained in it's use, and this article mentions this poor father was providing CPR for 5 minutes before the rescue crew arrived with one. Maybe that would have helped, maybe not, but if there was one millionth of a chance, I think they should be stationed close by.....

ORLANDO -- A 12-year-old boy died today after riding the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios theme park, officials said this afternoon.

The boy, on vacation from Fort Campbell, Ky., with his family, was riding with 7-year-old brother and his parents. He was "reportedly limb after exiting the ride," and his father immediately began CPR, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

A 911 call at 11:21 a.m. said the boy, identified as Michael Russell, was unconscious and not breathing after the ride. The Reedy Creek Fire Rescue, which responds to emergency calls at Walt Disney World, noted in the 911 call report that there was no defibrillator available until rescue workers arrived about 11:26 a.m.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was declared dead en route to Celebration Hospital after the incident, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Disney World officials said they closed the attraction "pending an investigation," but added that an "initial review of the attraction shows the ride was operating normally."

"We offer the family our deepest sympathies," Disney said in a statement at 2:46 p.m. "A company representative is with them providing assistance."

A news conference was planned for 4 p.m. today with Disney and Orange Sheriff's officials, but had not started by 4:10 p.m.

According to state records reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel, this would be the seventh person whose death is associated with attractions since the Christmas season of 2004. The most recent was in April, when Hiltrud Blumel, a 49-year-old German woman, died after riding Epcot's Mission: Space simulator ride.

The coaster, known for its fast start and pulsating Aerosmith soundtrack, is the second-fastest ride at Disney, with a top speed of 57 mph. According to the Disney Web site, "This attraction pulls between 4 and 5 big, fat, monster Gs. Space shuttle astronauts, by comparison, experience 3 Gs at liftoff.''

The indoor ride, which opened in 1999, catapults people from zero-to-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, then takes them through a make-believe night in Southern California in a 24-passenger stretch limo. The ride climbs to 85 feet and goes by Hollywood landmarks on its way through five inversions.

It has the tallest height requirement in Disney's four parks -- tied with Animal Kingdom Primeval Whirl. (There is a 52 inch height requirement to drive at the Magic Kingdom's Indy Speedway, but you can be any height on that to be a passenger.

The fastest ride at Disney is Epcot's Test Track, which can reach a speed of 65 mph.

Visitors to Disney-MGM Studios this afternoon said they were unaware of the death. A sign posted at the front of the park noted that the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster was closed, but did not explain why.

Disney workers at the ride entrance were telling people they did not know why the ride was closed or that it involved technical difficulties.

 

[NotUrsula]

I was at IOA on the day of what I believe was their last fatal incident, in Sept. '03 when woman in her 30's had a heart attack on the Hulk coaster. I was waiting with DS while DH was in the ride line. We were staying on site so he was doing FOTL access; I got concerned when he didn't come out for a VERY long time. The lady had a massive coronary during the ride, which of course was not noticed until it stopped. Everyone else got off and she stayed slumped in her seat; I understand that her family had to eventually make a life-support decision in that case.

I don't think that there is any kind of conspiracy. I think that the reason that WDW gets much bigger international press in these situations is that the company and the parks are so closely associated with children; it is kind of a wholesome-ness factor. Deaths at a Disney park just get more attention for that reason. When I am at the Orlando parks in hot weather, I've often seen and heard ambulances leaving both the Universal and WDW complexes. A lot of people overdo it and end up in the hospital, and I suspect that a fair number of them don't make it. It is only when the person falls ill or is hurt while on a ride or attraction that it will garner press attention.

My condolences to the young man's family.

[EDITED to correct a typographical error.]

 

[WDWguru]

First, very sad story and I'm very sad for the family. That said, my husband works in emergency services and a defibrilator is NOT a cure-all miracle device. Several conditions must be met before one is used (ie heart issue rather than breathing, a certain type of rhythm) and even if it is, it isn't always effective. It's not like on tv where it works every time - in fact, MOST of the time it doesn't.

 

[qtwns]

I am beyond knowing what to say. This is one of our favortite rides. So sad...my prayers are with everyone involved.

 

[Gerweniel]

Just another reason to hug your kids and loved ones and relish every minute you have together at home, Disney or wherever you are. Don't waste your time on pettiness, silly fights etc.

My heart is so saddened for this family's loss. I hope prior to this they were at least having a great time together. My thoughts are with them and with the little boy.

 

[Bo'sMom]

<<A 911 call at 11:21 a.m. said the boy, identified as Michael Russell, was unconscious and not breathing after the ride. The Reedy Creek Fire Rescue, which responds to emergency calls at Walt Disney World, noted in the 911 call report that there was no defibrillator available until rescue workers arrived about 11:26 a.m.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was declared dead en route to Celebration Hospital after the incident, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.<<

They say his name has not been released, but isn't it in the paragraph above?

 

[HHNfreak4life]

i'm so sorry for the boys death but it occurs that more of a ranged crowd attend wdw than any of the parks in florida.
so at universal it is less likely for a death to occur there.

that's my two cents
Steven"still coaster crazy" Featherston

 

[mdhkitten]

I haven't read through the entire post, so this may have been mentioned, but after reading the article it sounds like WDW doesn't have defibrillators readily available. This is a huge shock IMO, because I have worked for malls for the past several years as a customer service supervisor, and we've always had defibrillators available, in the fact the mall that I'm at now has them in certain places in the mall so that security and mall personnel don't have to wait for paramedics to arrived (we're trained to use them). They can make the difference at times in life and death, not saying that this boy wouldn't have passed away regardless, but still, I would think that they would have them more readily available and the staff trained.