A 61-year-old man tragically died after being pulled into an active MRI machine while wearing a large metallic chain at a medical facility in Westbury, Long Island. The incident occurred at Nassau Open MRI and is currently under investigation by the Nassau County Police Department.
Authorities report that the man, identified by his wife as Keith McAllister, entered the MRI room without authorization while the machine was still operating. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners generate extremely powerful magnetic fields, making it critical for anyone entering the vicinity to remove metal objects due to the risk of them becoming dangerous projectiles.
According to police, McAllister was wearing a 20-pound (9-kilogram) metal chain around his neck, typically used for weight training. His wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, was undergoing a scan for a knee injury and had called her husband into the room for assistance once her session was complete. She tearfully recounted that the machine immediately pulled him toward it with such force that his body was violently drawn into the scanner.
“He waved goodbye to me and then his whole body went limp,” she told News 12 Long Island. She added that the technician attempted to pull him away and that she pleaded with staff to turn off the machine and call emergency services.
The incident caused what officials described as a “medical episode.” McAllister was rushed to the hospital but died the following day.
MRI machines, though vital for diagnostic imaging, pose serious risks when safety protocols are not strictly followed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously warned that the strong magnetic fields of MRI scanners can attract metal objects, leading to potential injury or even death.
This is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred. In 2001, a six-year-old boy in New York City died after an oxygen tank was pulled into an MRI machine, striking him in the head.
The tragic death of Keith McAllister serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by powerful medical imaging equipment and the critical need for strict adherence to safety guidelines.
