A boy from Kentucky riding Walt Disney World’s Rock `n’ Roller Coaster slumped over during the ride Thursday and later died even though his Army Green Beret father tried to resuscitate him.
There was no indication of why Michael Russell, 12, of Ft. Campbell, lost consciousness on the popular indoor roller coaster at Disney-MGM Studios, or why he died. The Orange County sheriff’s office was investigating the death, and the medical examiner’s office planned to do an autopsy Friday.
The boy was visiting with his parents, Byron and Charlotte Russell, and brother, Houston, 7.
Byron Russell is a member of the Army’s 5th Special Forces Group at Ft. Campbell.
“The family is in mourning,” said Maj. Jim Gregory, a public affairs officer for the special force’s command.
Disney closed the ride and asked the Florida Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection to assist in an inquiry. There was no indication Thursday of equipment failure.
The death is the seventh in 18 months involving people stricken at Walt Disney World attractions, state records show. None of the other six deaths involved accidents. In some of those cases, autopsies found existing, dangerous medical conditions.
The Russell family said Michael was in good health.
The family boarded Rock `n’ Roller Coaster after 11 a.m., with Michael sitting next to his mother and brother and his father behind them, said Deputy Barbara Miller, an Orange County sheriff’s spokeswoman.
“The dad noticed the little boy went limp as the ride finished,” Miller said.
Deputies say Byron Russell immediately began CPR on his son, and a ride employee called 911 to summon paramedics. Michael was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Disney said 36.6 million people have ridden Rock `n’ Roller Coaster since its 1999 debut.
There have been no previously reported deaths or any major injuries since at least 2002, according to state records.
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Other deaths
According to Florida state records, there have been six other deaths associated with Disney attractions since the 2004 Christmas season:
– A 49-year-old German woman died after riding Epcot’s Mission: Space simulator ride
-A girl, 11, while waiting to get on Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom
– A 77-year-old woman, after riding Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom
– A man, 30, after riding Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom
– A boy, 4, after being on Mission: Space
– A 12-year-old girl, at Typhoon Lagoon water park
–Orlando Sentinel
