Man who was pulled into MRI machine has died, police say
NEW YORK – A man who was critically injured on July 16 after he entered an MRI room on Long Island, New York, and was pulled into the machine by his chain necklace died the next day, authorities said on J uly 18.
The man, who was 61, was wearing a 'large metallic chain' around his neck when he entered the room at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, New York, at 4.34pm local time on July 16 (4.34am on July 17, Singapore time), according to the Nassau County Police Department.
The man, whom police did not name, did not have authorisation to enter the room, police said. Being pulled into the machine made him have a medical episode, they said, without offering additional details.
He was taken to a hospital, where he died at 2.36pm on J uly 17 , authorities said.
Nassau County police said in a news release on J uly 18 that the investigation into the episode was continuing. A spokesperson for the department said that no other information was available.
Nassau Open MRI did not respond to a request for comment.
Magnetic resonance imaging machines use magnets and radio frequency currents to produce detailed anatomical images.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore S'pore sees no baby boom in Year of the Dragon despite slight rise in births in 2024
Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore
Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died
Asia Cool photo spots, viral food videos: Malaysia plans to woo Chinese tourists via social media
Asia From propaganda to passion: N. Korean TV show mimics K-drama to fend off banned media from the South
Singapore 314 suicides reported in Singapore in 2024, remains leading cause of youth deaths
Singapore New auto pet wash service in Buona Vista draws flak, but firm stands by its safety
Life US tech firm launches probe into Coldplay 'kiss cam' couple after clip goes viral
The magnetic force of an MRI machine is strong enough to fling a wheelchair across a room, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Patients are advised to remove jewelry and piercings before entering an MRI machine, and people with some medical implants, particularly those containing iron, should not undergo MRI scans, the institute said.
Injuries and deaths involving MRI machines have occurred in the past. In 2001, a 6-year-old boy died when a metal oxygen tank was pulled into a machine while he was undergoing a scan.
A man died in India in 2018 when he entered an MRI room while carrying an oxygen tank. In 2023, a nurse in California was crushed and needed surgery after she was pinned between an MRI machine and a hospital bed that had been pulled toward the machine by the machine's magnetic force.
Nassau Open MRI offers closed and open MRI scans, according to its website. An open MRI involves a machine that is open at the sides rather than a closed tube. NYTIMES
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
WHO chief says ‘large proportion' of Gaza's people ‘starving'
Find out what's new on ST website and app. More than two million people in Gaza are facing severe shortages of food and other essentials after 21 months of conflict. GENEVA - The World Health Organisation's chief warned on July 23 of widespread starvation in Gaza, saying food deliveries into the war-ravaged Palestinian territory were 'far below what is needed for the survival of the population'. 'A large proportion of the population of Gaza is starving. I don't know what you would call it other than mass starvation – and it's man-made,' Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters. His statement added his voice to those of 111 aid organisations and rights groups, including MSF and Oxfam, who warned earlier on July 23 that 'mass starvation' was spreading in Gaza . 'Our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away,' they said in a joint statement. Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than two million people are facing severe shortages of food and other essentials after 21 months of conflict. Even after Israel began easing a more than two-month aid blockade in late May, Gaza's population is still suffering extreme scarcities. 'The 2.1 million people trapped in the war zone that is Gaza are facing yet another killer on top of bombs and bullets: starvation,' Dr Tedros said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes Singapore Male victim of fatal Toa Payoh fire was known to keep many things, say residents Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Sport Bukayo Saka the difference as Arsenal beat AC Milan at National Stadium Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him Singapore Over 1.15 million Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 have claimed SG60 vouchers Singapore Singapore Oceanarium will enhance tourism while supporting sustainability: Grace Fu 'We are now witnessing a deadly surge in malnutrition-related deaths,' he added. Children starving to death Dr Tedros highlighted that 'rates of global acute malnutrition exceed 10 per cent, and over 20 per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women that have been screened are malnourished, often severely'. The UN health agency has documented 21 deaths in Gaza related to malnutrition of children under the age of five since the beginning of the year, but acknowledges that that the true number is likely higher. The head of Gaza's largest hospital said on July 22 that 21 children had died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory over the previous three days alone. Dr Tedros warned that 'the hunger crisis is being accelerated by the collapse of aid pipelines and restrictions on access'. The starvation is 'man-made' and clearly caused by Israel's blockade on the territory, he said. The WHO chief highlighted how starving people were risking their lives to access aid. The UN rights office said on July 22 that Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations in late May. 'Not only 1,026 were killed while trying to feed themselves or find food for their family. Thousands were also wounded,' Dr Tedros said. 'We demand that there is full access, and we demand that there is a ceasefire,' he said. 'We demand that there is a political solution to this problem, a lasting solution.' AFP
New Paper
a day ago
- New Paper
All Kpod cases to be recorded, vapes must be confiscated: MOH, HSA
In a sign that the health authorities are treating vapes laced with etomidate more seriously, public healthcare institutions have been told to record all suspected and confirmed etomidate-linked vaping cases. In a circular from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) dated July 9, they said medical practitioners should also get patients to surrender their e-vaporisers and consider sending their urine samples for testing. This is because both authorities noticed that between 2024 and 2025, there had been a worrying increase in the number of e-vaporisers detected containing etomidate in Singapore. Such devices are also known as "Kpods", which the authorities have recently intensified crackdowns on. The circular highlighted the report in March by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which said etomidate had been notably detected in illicit drug markets in East and South-east Asia. Etomidate is a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent and is classified as a poison under the Poisons Act. This means a licence is required for its importation or sale. Etomidate found in vapes or supplied in oil capsules or formulations to be inhaled directly into users' lungs are not medical products and are prohibited. Under the Act, those found in possession of or using pods containing etomidate can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both. MOH and HSA said that because of the rising concerns, they are studying the harm and addictiveness of etomidate use in vapes, through those who seek medical attention. They said these studies will inform and shape policy, including whether existing regulations need to be tightened or amended. On July 12, MOH and the Ministry of Home Affairs said they were considering further steps to better address the vaping issue, including whether current laws for enforcement could be enhanced. The number of cases involving etomidate-laced vape pods has nearly tripled in Singapore to 28 cases in the first six months of 2025, compared with 10 in the whole of 2024. The MOH-HSA circular was addressed to emergency departments, urgent care centres, departments of psychiatry of public healthcare institutions, and the National Addictions Management Service Centre at the Institute of Mental Health. In it, the authorities said medical practitioners should reassure patients that enforcement actions will not be taken against them for previous vape use if they voluntarily come forward to seek medical help. Medical practitioners were told to observe symptoms and signs like seizures, dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, coughing, arrhythmias and thermal injury to airways. In the circular, the authorities invoked powers under the Healthcare Services Act, requiring licensed medical practitioners to comply with the instructions. Those who fail to do so can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to $10,000. During medical consultation, medical practitioners should confiscate the vapes, place them in ziplock bags and lock them up. They should also consider sending patients' urine samples to HSA for toxicology testing. MOH and HSA said members of the public who have sought assistance through the Health Promotion Board's (HPB) QuitLine may be directed to seek medical help at public health institutions' emergency departments. After treatment, these emergency departments may refer patients to the QuitLine on 1800-438-2000 for continued support. Participants of HPB's I Quit programme need not worry about being fined or prosecuted, as it does not presume they have or use vaping products. But if they are caught using or possessing such items, then they will be prosecuted. MOH and HSA previously said that more than $41 million worth of vapes and related components were seized between January 2024 and March 2025. More than 14,600 people were caught by the authorities in 2024, compared with just 4,916 in 2022.
AsiaOne
a day ago
- AsiaOne
'I have seen his hands tremble, his eyes go blank': Son's K-pod addiction leaves parents in $30k debt, Singapore News
A father has shared his frustrations and concerns after his son was dismissed from multiple jobs due to an addiction to 'Kpods' — vape pods containing liquid laced with etomidate, a powerful anaesthetic. In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, the father, who did not wish to be named, said his son, who is in his 20s, began using the e-vaporisers in January last year. However, it wasn't until January this year that his appearance and mental state changed dramatically. Before-and-after photos seen by Shin Min showed a shocking transformation: from a healthy young man with a ruddy complexion and strong physique to someone pale, thin, and with dull eyes. Despite bringing his son for counselling in March this year and receiving repeated assurances that he would quit his addiction, the young man continued to break his promises. What disappointed him most was seeing his son come home recently with an unsteady gait and vacant expression — a clear sign that he had relapsed. "I have seen his hands tremble, his eyes go blank and sometimes he has to hold onto the wall just to walk," said the father, adding that his son had been fired from three to four jobs this year due to the addiction. However, the situation worsened when his son, who was financially desperate, began borrowing money from a loan company, resulting in a wave of collection letters sent to the family. The father revealed that he and his wife have used their life savings to pay off most of their son's debts. According to the Chinese daily, one of the collection notices showed that each loan was around $2,500. "I'm heartbroken at his actions, but he's still my son. I told him that as long as he stops smoking, I would pay off the $30,000 debt he owes," he said, adding that he and his wife still have no idea where their son obtained the e-vaporisers. "I feel completely hopeless. I don't even dare report this to the Health Sciences Authority. If they fine him and he can't pay, we'll be the ones left to bear the cost." The father told Shin Min that during Chinese New Year, his son was even assaulted by a seller after failing to pay for e-vaporisers bought on credit. "The person told him that if he couldn't pay, he'd have to run errands to repay the debt. Isn't that illegal?" the father questioned, revealing that strangers have also taken photos of their front door. In March alone, the father said he found more than 20 e-vaporisers in his son's room. "Sometimes I'd confiscate them, and he'd just go out for a walk and come back with a new one," he said, adding that many of the devices come in various shapes and colours. Quit his job to supervise son In a desperate attempt to help, the father told Shin Min that he quit his job in March and stayed home to supervise his son for a month. "I was worried he'd buy more e-vaporisers, and I hoped he'd quit and stay away from bad influences," he said. With his son initially showed signs of improvement, the father returned to work in April — only to discover that his son had secretly resumed vaping. The father said he hopes to warn others about the dangers of vapes through his personal experience, while urging authorities to step up enforcement and introduce policies that impose equal penalties on both buyers and sellers. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the purchase, possession, and use of e-vaporisers are illegal, with offenders facing fines of up to $2,000. Possessing or using pods containing etomidate, a controlled substance under the Poisons Act that can cause permanent organ failure and hallucinations, can result in jail of up to two years and a fine of up to $10,000. [[nid:720471]]
