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Life and Death at Disney World: Heart Attack, Labor Reported

Life and Death at Disney World: Heart Attack, Labor Reported

Blizzard Beach is a water park located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, on May 12, 2006. (Maxim Sivyi/Dreamstime)

By    |   Tuesday, 17 July 2018 12:43 PM EDT

A state report released Monday described the start of life and the end of it at Disney World this year, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The report noted the death James Person, 71, who died June after suffering a heart attack from a pre-existing heart condition after he was in the wave pool at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park, the Sentinel reported.

The Orange-Osceola County Medical Examiner's Office declined to give additional information on Person's incident because his autopsy remained pending, the newspaper said. The Orlando Sentinel said Person, from Waterford, Pennsylvania, was a U.S. Marines veteran who served in Vietnam as a sergeant and had been honored with a numerous medals and awards, according to his obituary.

Person had retired from Rohrer Trucking in Waterford, New York, as an over-the-road driver, the obituary said.

The same state report said that an unnamed 27-year-old woman went into labor in April after riding Kilimanjaro Safaris, an attraction at Animal Kingdom, the Sentinel reported. The newspaper said that the safari ride can be bumpy as it travels to points where visitors can see lions, elephants and other animals at the theme park.

The website American Pregnancy Association wrote in 2015 that Disney, Six Flags, Busch Gardens and even many local state fairs post warning signs about riding certain attractions during pregnancy.

The website stated while there are currently no studies documenting a problem with these types of rides while pregnant, there are no studies documenting their safety either.

The park reports such incidents on a routine basis in a deal to avoid state inspections, the Sentinel wrote. The reports are required for Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Legoland for any ride-related injuries or illnesses that required an immediate hospital stay of at least 24 hours, according to the Sentinel.

There is a similar rule in Texas where amusement parks ride operators are required to report injuries that require medical attention to the Texas Department of Insurance, according to KSAT-TV.

The television station reported that this month that there has been 63 such injuries at Texas amusement parks since 2013. Texas is the home of large amusement parks like Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and Six Flags San Antonio.

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TheWire
A state report released Monday described the start of life and the end of it at Disney World this year, detailing incidents involving an elderly man having a heart attack and a pregnant woman going into labor.
life, death, disney world, emergencies
375
2018-43-17
Tuesday, 17 July 2018 12:43 PM
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