Keith McAllister’s MRI Tragedy: How a Neck Chain Turned a Medical Visit Into a Fatal Nightmare

The heartbreaking story of how a loving husband’s quick act of care ended in a horrifying death and what it says about MRI safety protocols

A routine medical appointment turned into a fatal tragedy when 61-year-old Keith McAllister was killed by the very machine meant to help diagnose patients. McAllister, from Long Island, New York, died after being pulled into an MRI scanner by the machine’s magnetic force, all because he was still wearing a metal chain around his neck.

It happened at Nassau Open MRI, a facility in Long Island, while his wife was undergoing a knee scan. What was supposed to be a short visit ended in chaos and heartbreak.

A simple act of help with tragic consequences

According to a public GoFundMe post by his stepdaughter Samantha Bodden, McAllister had been asked by a technician to assist his wife in getting off the MRI table. In the process, it appears no one warned him about the chain he was wearing, a thick, 9kg metal necklace.

That oversight would prove deadly.

As McAllister stepped into the MRI room, the machine’s powerful magnetic field instantly yanked him toward it. He was pinned to the machine, trapped, and reportedly remained stuck for almost an hour.

His wife and the technician tried to free him, but their efforts were futile.

By the time emergency services arrived, McAllister had suffered multiple cardiac arrests. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Why MRI machines are so dangerous with metal nearby

MRI machines use extremely strong magnets, so strong that they can launch heavy metal objects across a room at deadly speeds. That’s why patients and staff are normally asked to remove all metal objects before entering the scanning area. This includes jewellery, hearing aids, pacemakers, belt buckles, and even some zippers.

In fact, entire hospital wings are often redesigned to isolate MRI units with strict “no metal” zones.

The apparent failure to enforce these protocols raises serious concerns. If what Bodden describes is accurate, then this wasn’t just a tragic accident, it was a preventable one.

“He died helping her”: A family in mourning

Bodden’s emotional post has drawn sympathy from across the U.S., with many commenters expressing outrage and disbelief.

“He died helping her. He was just trying to help,” she wrote.

The GoFundMe page, created to help cover funeral costs, has become a place of grief and community support as people share their condolences and their concerns about how such a thing could happen in a professional medical facility.

Not the first time: Other fatal MRI accidents

Though rare, this isn’t the first fatal MRI accident caused by metal objects. In 2001, a six-year-old boy in New York died when an oxygen tank was pulled into the machine, striking his head. Just last year, a man in India died after entering an MRI room with a metal oxygen cylinder.

These incidents serve as harsh reminders that MRI safety is non-negotiable. One oversight, one lapse in communication, and lives can be lost.

Calls for accountability and better safety protocols

The medical imaging facility has yet to issue a detailed statement, but questions are swirling: Why wasn’t McAllister warned about his necklace? Were the standard safety checks skipped? And who is ultimately responsible?

For now, a Long Island family is left grieving, and a community is demanding answers.

As MRI machines become more widely used, and as more people undergo scans for everything from back pain to cancer screening, experts say this tragedy must serve as a wake-up call for every clinic and technician: strict safety protocols aren’t just guidelines, they are lifesaving measures.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com