Update Of Rock 'n' Rollercoaster Death

[GrinGrinnyGhosts]

It was Found Out that the boy's Autopsy shows that the Boy at Disney had heart defect
By TRAVIS REED


Boy Dies After Roller Coaster Ride

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) -- The 12-year-old boy who died after riding a Walt Disney World roller coaster had a congenital heart defect, a medical examiner ruled Friday.

The autopsy of Michael Russell was done one day after he passed out while riding Disney-MGM's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. His father, an Iraq war veteran, performed CPR on the boy, but Michael was pronounced dead at a hospital.

"No evidence of injury was found but congenital heart abnormalities were detected, which will be further evaluated," the Orange County medical examiner's office said in a statement.

The cause of death was left pending until additional test are conducted, Dr. Sara H. Irrgang, an associate medical examiner, ruled.



Disney World reopened the coaster Friday after determining that nothing mechanical caused the boy's death. A Disney Web site description of the ride says: "Zoom from 0-60 mph with the force of a supersonic F-14, take in high-speed loops and turns synchronized to a specially recorded Aerosmith soundtrack."

"Walt Disney World engineers and ride system experts completed a thorough inspection of the attraction overnight and found it to be operating properly," the company said in a statement. "A representative from the state Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection observed the ride inspection and testing."

Disney and other large amusement parks are exempt from state oversight, but Disney has allowed government inspectors to watch after fatalities.

The boy's father, Byron Russell, noticed that Michael became limp while they rode the coaster along with his mother and 7-year-old brother. When the minute-long ride finished, Russell pulled Michael off and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, said Barbara Miller, Orange County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

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Miller said Russell told officials that the boy was healthy and that the family didn't know of any underlying medical problems.

The company and military said they were assisting the family.

The father is a part of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Fort Campbell, Ky., and served in Iraq, said special forces Command spokesman Maj. Jim Gregory.

"You can't even put words to how devastating this would be," Gregory said.

Michael's death was the latest in a string of tragedies at Walt Disney World in recent years. At least 15 people have died at Disney's theme parks in Florida and California since 1989, including some with pre-existing health conditions. Disney-MGM is among Disney's four Florida parks.

Most of the company'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 year after going on the ride, which spins in a centrifuge that subjects riders to twice the normal force of gravity. Now Disney offers people an option to ride a tamer version of the ride that does not spin

 

[YoHo]

Is it just me, or are we seening a lot more heart defects that lead to death on attractions recently? I wonder if their's a study on the rates of congenital heart problems with recent children.

Probably ties into the increase in ADHD and Other disorders caused by the Mercury laced Vaccines these kids got.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

Or maybe it ties into the general "inactiveness" we see in kids today. They play video games. They watch TV. They sit around. There's an epidemic of obesity in kids in America. Kids rarely play pick-up baseball games, they don't play tag for hours on end, they don't ride their bikes until their legs feel like jello anymore. Even the ones that look healthy, maybe aren't. Maybe parents don't know or find out about these "pre-existing" conditions until it's too late because the child never had exerted himself to a point where parents could find out....

It could be a societal or generational thing. And before you accuse me of "blaming the parents", that was not my intent. I was merely hypothesizing a plausible scenario....

 

[DancingBear]

congenital means condition was present at birth, so not from vaccines or lack of exercise. Not sure if more exertion in general would reveal the problem or not; seems like mostly you just hear about kids dropping dead at high school football practice and such.

 

[YoHo]

Yes, but I would assume that's based on past experience. The defect may have developed early on and the Docs just don't know it.



That is irrelevent though, the question I'm asking is if the rate of defect has increased recently, or if something else is at work?

Which is not absolve Disney of any responsibility they may have. I'm just curious.

 

[Cricket2]

Is there an actuary in the house? I would like to see some real numbers on what the odds are of this all simply being strictly a numbers thing. For all we know, the worst is yet to come or this is all a huge fluke of nature.

 

[babieemelly]

There is no way for congenital heart disease to occur due to inactivity. It is a birth defect. The only heart related problems due to inactivity occur later in life. There is also no way to find out what is wrong unless tests are done. Saying that kids should ride their bikes more so their parents could find out is ridiculous. Is it better if they die at home? Makes no sense. The only way to find heart problems is to get tested.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

The population increases greatly. The number of people riding roller coasters annually increases greatly. The numbr of thrill rides pushing the limit increases greatly. The number of deaths associated with riding roller coasters increases greatly...Doesn't seem to be a mystery to me. Just mathematics. All Aboard, what's your take?

 

[YoHo]

The population increases greatly. The number of people riding roller coasters annually increases greatly. The numbr of thrill rides pushing the limit increases greatly. The number of deaths associated with riding roller coasters increases greatly...Doesn't seem to be a mystery to me. Just mathematics. All Aboard, what's your take?

I don't think it's that simple. Rollercoasters with generally the thrill factor have been around long enough that statistically speaking, if this was an issue, it should have come up by now. Unless there's a recent increase in the rate of congenital heart defects.

 

[reeeoga]

Maybe with the better healthcare system more children are living with heart problems. I have a heart murmer. I was VERY sick when born. The doctor told my mother (after I got better) "don't have another kid, I may not be able to save that one". Rather harsh, but he was a long time family doctor.

The sedimentary lifestyle of todays youth does mean that more kids with possibly fatal problems are living longer. Kids do pass out and die all the time from unknown problems. When that happens at Disney the Media jump on it.

Question: How many people visit Disney World and Land each year? I read in several articals that 17 people have died at the disney parks from 1989 to this one. The answer may show just how rare a death at Disney is. Comapre that number to a town near you that has the same daily population.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

There is no way for congenital heart disease to occur due to inactivity. It is a birth defect. The only heart related problems due to inactivity occur later in life. There is also no way to find out what is wrong unless tests are done. Saying that kids should ride their bikes more so their parents could find out is ridiculous. Is it better if they die at home? Makes no sense. The only way to find heart problems is to get tested.

I didn't say they'd come about from inactivity - I get that part of it.... You're right in the fact that specific medical tests are required to pinpoint the actual defect. All I was eluding to was that kids don't do as much as they used to to perhaps push their bodies to a point where something may reveal itself. If your child plays soccer and has a history of getting woozy after some serious exertion, I bet you'd have it checked out. It's plausible to have some minor heart defect that: under normal circumstances the effects won't be revealed; under more stressful conditions the effects may be revealed; and under the right conditions could possible even kill. The effects act as a clue that might lead you to the tests...

 

[Uncleromulus]

Pirate:
I think you have it just about right.

 

[DisInsider]

So now we know what may have caused this unfortunate and very sad event. My thoughts are with the family and now I think it's time to put this subject to rest. More wishes are fine, but I think the speculation can end at this point, wouldn't most of you agree?

Besides, this story has overshadowed this week's other major Disney event. The firing of Star Jones from the view. Discuss?

 

[yalidae]

Michael's death was the latest in a string of tragedies at Walt Disney World in recent years. At least 15 people have died at Disney's theme parks in Florida and California since 1989, including some with pre-existing health conditions. Disney-MGM is among Disney's four Florida parks.

Most of the company'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 year after going on the ride, which spins in a centrifuge that subjects riders to twice the normal force of gravity. Now Disney offers people an option to ride a tamer version of the ride that does not spin

That's very sad . Now, I feel I don't want to ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and Mission: SPACE forever.

 

[71010]

I just got back from WDW yesterday and I was at MGM when this horrible thing happened. I had already been on the RNRC several times that day. We returned later in the day to see hovering helicopters and a lot of "unusual" activity and just got a weird feeling. We then started to hear people talk about reports on CNN. It just made us feel sick. No matter what the reason for his heart condition, the bottom line is, someones child died on that ride. My heart goes out to the family.

 

[Schmeck]

The sedimentary lifestyle of todays youth does mean that more kids with possibly fatal problems are living longer. Kids do pass out and die all the time from unknown problems. When that happens at Disney the Media jump on it.

Now, I really don't think today's youth spend their days stuck in the sediment at the bottom of the local pond...

I'm sure you meant sedentary, but thanks for the chuckle!

 

[reeeoga]

Now, I really don't think today's youth spend their days stuck in the sediment at the bottom of the local pond...

I'm sure you meant sedentary, but thanks for the chuckle!

As you can tell by my spelling I went to Public sckul