Man, 44, dies after riding Disney World roller coaster in Florida

Man, 44, dies after riding Disney World roller coaster in Florida
The Canadian Press
Tue 18 Dec 2007
Section: Foreign General News

ORLANDO, Fla. _ A 44-year-old man died Tuesday after riding a roller coaster at Walt Disney World that simulates a runaway train ride through the Himalayas, authorities said.

Jeffery Reed, of Navarre, Fla., was pulled unresponsive from the ride, given CPR and pronounced dead at a hospital. He had no visible signs of injury, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Authorities are investigating whether Reed had a previous medical condition, said Jim Solomons, sheriff's spokesman. An autopsy is planned.

Inspectors found that the ride, Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest, was working properly, but Disney kept it closed during further review.

The ride, Expedition Everest, made its debut in 2006 and features a 24-metre drop. Before Tuesday's death, at least 15 people had died at Disney's theme parks in Florida and California since 1989, some with previous health conditions.

 

Something must have went terribly wrong. ; I can't believe that. ; It doesn't seem like the type of ride that would so something like that.

 

I'm guessing that we can chalk this up to a "pre-existing medical condition".

 

Yep...although because it's Disney, somehow, someway they will still get sued for it. :

I must admit, the backwards portion of EE always makes me a little woozy, so I can see how it can trigger a pre existing condition.

 

Bummer. Poor guys family. My sympathies.

If he had a some kind of medical issue he could have died during any kind of intense acticity.

A 12 year old passed away on the Rock'n'Roller Coaster a few years ago under similar circumstances.

 

And then there's poor Mission Space....

I still like the full-powered experience and so do my kids.