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Heart Attack Cause Of Death On Disney Ride
12/20/2007 2:07 PM EST
Jeffery Chalmers Reeb, 44, apparently suffered from a heart attack Tuesday, during a ride on the Walt Disney World Attraction, Expedition Everest. When his photograph was taken abut 50 seconds before the ride ended, he appeared to be conscious, but was unconscious when the ride did finally come to an end, and paramedics were immediately called. A Disney employee as well as a Disney Guest both tried to revive him with CPR, but to no avail. When paramedics arrived, he has no pulse. He was then taken to Celebration Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Disney World has portable defibrillators available, but one was not immediately available for use on Mr. Reeb. Animal Kingdom does have at least two defibrillators, one in a first aid station on Discovery Island and one on a mobile cart.
While there is no way to tell if a defibrillator would have saved Reeb's life before the paramedics got there, it is certain that the paramedics, who carry their own, would not have been able to save him says Reedy Creek Assistant Fire Chief Bo Jones. He had no pulse when they had arrived about 5 minutes later.
When a little 4 year old boy died on Mission: Space in 2005, a lawsuit was brought against Disney, partially for the fact that they didn't have defibrillator nearby enough. Disney eventually settled with the family for an undisclosed amount. The company has trained thousands of their employees in the use of the equipment, and claim that they may have saved as many as 40 lives. They also have said that they will be installing about 200 more in Walt Disney World alone.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office says that no one witnessed the cardiac arrest, but that he was traveling with family members. Disney offered their "deepest sympathies" and offered assistance to the family.
For more information about Disney's Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest visit Magical Mountain Animal Kingdom section, and for a complete ride video of the Disney attraction click here.
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