A 61-year-old man died after a metal chain he wore was pulled into an active MRI machine in Westbury, New York, prompting a police investigation.
Tragic Incident at New York MRI Facility
A 61-year-old man lost his life after being pulled into a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at a medical facility in Westbury, New York, due to wearing a heavy metal chain. The incident occurred on Wednesday at Nassau Open MRI and has since raised serious safety concerns around MRI protocols.
Chain Triggered Fatal Magnetic Reaction
According to Nassau County Police, the man, who was not authorized to enter the MRI room, stepped in while the machine was still operational. He was wearing a 20-pound metal chain, which was forcefully pulled into the machine’s magnetic field. The magnetic force caused the man to collapse on impact, leading to a fatal medical episode.
Victim Identified by Family
Though authorities have not released the man’s identity, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, a patient at the facility, told local media that the victim was her husband, Keith. She had called him into the room to help her after her knee scan and did not anticipate the machine was still active. “He waved goodbye to me and then his whole body went limp,” she said emotionally.
Medical Response and Outcome
The man was rushed to a nearby hospital following the incident but succumbed to his injuries the next day. Emergency services were called, but efforts to save him were unsuccessful. Witnesses report panic and confusion as a technician attempted to pull him away from the MRI unit.
Investigation Underway
Police have launched an investigation to determine how the man was able to enter the scanning room while the machine was active—a breach of standard MRI safety protocols. The facility, Nassau Open MRI, has not issued a public comment as of press time.
MRI Safety Under Scrutiny
MRI machines produce powerful magnetic fields capable of turning metal objects into dangerous projectiles. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), all metallic objects, regardless of size, can pose lethal risks in MRI environments.
This incident echoes a 2001 case where a six-year-old child died in New York City when an oxygen tank became a projectile inside an MRI room. Experts now call for reinforced safety checks and staff training to prevent further tragedies.
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