An elderly man with health issues fainted on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and later died, according to a new state report where Florida’s theme parks self-disclose guests’ medical emergencies.
According to an Orange County Sheriff’s report, Joseph Masters rode the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (PeopleMover) with his wife, Alice, when he passed out on the 25th September.
Masters was 83-years-old and from Palm Coast, Florida.
The report describes what happened as the PeopleMover continued to move.
“She began to panic,” The report said. “She began asking for help and attempted to contact family members who were at the park. As the ride [PeopleMover] came to [an] end. Disney staff and security responded to the scene where CPR was initiated.”
Masters was taken to Celebration Hospital, where doctors tried to save his life. Sadly, they were unsuccessful. He was pronounced at dead at 5:04pm.
“It was later learned Joseph had a pacemaker implanted and was diagnosed with an extensive list of medical conditions [that] include diabetes and hypertension,” the report said.
A Celebration doctor determined the 83-year-old Florida man “had a large blockage of an artery, near the right side of his heart.”
“Joseph’s death was deemed natural given the aforementioned circumstances,” the report said.
Masters obituary described him as a man who loved his wife of nearly 50 years, had a strong Catholic faith and enjoyed visiting Walt Disney World.
“He worked as a Foreman for a stage lighting company as well as serving our nation honorably in the Army National Guard at Camp Smith Military Base for 23 years, “ his obituary said.
Masters’ death was reported to the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office, but the agency did not conduct an autopsy.
It’s fair to suggest that this isn’t the first time someone has had a medical emergency on the PeopleMover.
Back in February, a 72-year-old woman lost consciousness on the PeopleMover, according to the state injury report released every quarter by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Millions of people visit Walt Disney World every year. Disney is meant to self-report when a guest becomes ill or sick and requires at least 24 hours of hospitalisation.
Masters; death is one of the six reported medical emergencies at Walt Disney World from July through September, according to the latest state theme park injury report released today.
Listed below are the medical emergencies Walt Disney World reported:
- A 27-year-old woman went into labour after exiting the Tomorrowland Speedway at the Magic Kingdom last month.
- A 47-year-old man passed out on EPCOT’s Mission: SPACE “after experiencing the green side of the attraction” in July.
- Last month, a 59-year-old woman “sustained injury to [her] toes” on Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- An 83-year-old man was “briefly unresponsive” on Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom last month.
A number of incidents were reported at Universal Orlando including:
- 28-year-old man passing out on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
- A 38-year-old woman felt neck pain on the NEW Jurassic World VelociCoaster.
- 51-year-old man experiencing chest pain on (Universal’s) Volcano Bay’s Kopiko Wai Winding River.
No issues were reported at SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, or Legoland Florida.
Stay tuned to Orlando Theme Park Zone for more Orlando theme park-related news and information.
H/T Florida Politics
