Man dies after heavy weight-training chain around neck pulls him into MRI machine
The man, 61, had entered an MRI room while a scan was underway Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Open MRI. The machine's strong magnetic force drew him in by the metallic chain around his neck, according to a release from the Nassau County Police Department.
He died Thursday afternoon, but a police officer who answered the phone at the Nassau County police precinct where the MRI facility is located said the department had not yet been given permission to release the name Saturday.
Adrienne Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island in a recorded interview that she was undergoing an MRI on her knee when she asked the technician to get her husband, Keith McAllister, to help her get off the table. She said she called out to him.
She told News 12 that the technician summoned into the room her husband, who was wearing a 20-pound chain that he uses for weight training, an object they'd had a casual conversation about during a previous visit with comments like: 'Ooooooh, that's a big chain!'
When he got close to her, she said, 'at that instant, the machine switched him around, pulled him in and he hit the MRI.'
'I said: 'Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, Turn this damn thing off!'' she recalled, as tears ran down her face. 'He went limp in my arms.'
She said the technician helped her try to pull her husband off the machine but it was impossible.
'He waved goodbye to me and then his whole body went limp,' Jones-McAllister told the TV outlet.
Jones-McAllister told News 12 that McAllister suffered heart attacks after he was freed from the MRI machine.
A person who answered the phone at Nassau Open MRI on Long Island declined to comment Friday. The phone number went unanswered on Saturday.
It wasn't the first New York death to result from an MRI machine.
In 2001, 6-year-old Michael Colombini of Croton-on-Hudson was killed at the Westchester Medical Center when an oxygen tank flew into the chamber, drawn in by the MRI's 10-ton electromagnet.
In 2010, records filed in Westchester County revealed that the family settled a lawsuit for $2.9 million.
MRI machines 'employ a strong magnetic field' that 'exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects,' according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, which says the units are 'strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room.'
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Veteran Inventor Announces New Air Purification System That Splits CO₂, Produces Oxygen, and May Support Health and Ozone Recovery
Veteran-led innovation introduces a multi-functional air filter system using Conducted Direct Current (CDC) to address environmental and wellness concerns Seminole, FLORIDA , July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clean Air Electric Filter announces the launch of its Conducted Direct Current (CDC) air purification system, a technology developed over 12 years by disabled American veteran Gal Joe Nahum. The system is designed to split carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbon and oxygen, generate ozone through negative ions, and may offer additional wellness benefits, including support for nutrient absorption. Gal Joe Nahum Photo The CDC filtration system works by passing direct current through the air, targeting CO₂ molecules. As the air flows through the unit, the current splits the carbon from the oxygen atoms. Carbon is internally collected, and purified oxygen is released, contributing to cleaner indoor and outdoor environments. A unique feature of this system is its generation of negative ions (–ions). These ions are naturally found in environments like waterfalls, where the friction of water hitting air produces a charge. 'Negative ions bind to positively charged particles, such as dust and pollutants, pulling them to the ground and purifying the air,' said Gal Joe. Nahum. 'If they reach the upper atmosphere, they may convert into ozone. Given the ozone depletion over Antarctica, restoring this layer is a priority for global health.' Beyond air purification, Gal Joe Nahum suggests the CDC technology may also have future use in health and wellness. 'There is a theory that this technology could assist the body in absorbing essential nutrients like vitamin D and calcium, potentially benefiting bones, nails, and teeth,' he noted. While this aspect remains under exploration, the concept reflects Nahum's commitment to broader applications for public benefit. The system is also being paired with a renewable energy source. Nahum is developing a transformer that harvests atmospheric energy, such as lightning and thunder, and converts it into direct current, allowing the filtration system to operate sustainably off-grid. Gal Joe Nahum, who served during the Desert Storm conflict, has dedicated over a decade of his life to the development of this technology. However, his efforts have not always been met with support. 'I came to NASA with this technology in good faith, hoping to collaborate,' he said. 'But I was dismissed simply because I wasn't part of the system. They forgot that some of the greatest innovators, like the Wright brothers, didn't have formal credentials. Without them, NASA wouldn't even exist.' His work is also chronicled in his book, which explores his scientific innovations and space-related concepts. Learn more at Gal Joe Nahum Clean Air Electric Filter galnahum1971@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mom, 25, Cries for Her Kids After Learning Breast Cancer Spread to Spine, Ribs, Lungs: ‘Hope I Get to See Them Grow Up'
NEED TO KNOW Savannah Caldwell says she was 'so tired all the time' — the first symptom that something was going on with the 25-year-old newlywed — before being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer The mom of four explains that it has spread throughout her body, and she is sharing her journey online as she undergoes brutal, aggressive treatment 'I want to fight and I want to live,' Caldwell saysA 25-year-old woman is facing the unthinkable after being diagnosed with breast cancer that's metastasized throughout her body. 'Fatigue was the main symptom' for newlywed Savannah Caldwell, who told WSAZ-TV, 'I'm 25, I shouldn't be feeling so tired all the time. And extreme pain in my bones [that was] unexplainable. There was no reason [for it].' Caldwell, who is raising four children with her husband Nick, found a lump on her chest and doctors ordered a biopsy this past spring. That's when she was diagnosed with cancer — stage 4 invasive ductal carcinoma. While it's the most common type of breast cancer, it generally affects women 55 and older, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 'I was in complete shock,' Caldwell said. 'I remember staring at the floor, not knowing what to think, not knowing what was next, that was a big worry. Worrying about my family, worrying about my life. I've grown up faster in a week than I have in 25 years.' She started chemotherapy immediately — and began documenting her treatment journey on a Facebook page, Savannah's Breast Cancer Battle, and TikTok, Savishay14, to raise awareness as more women under 40 are diagnosed with the disease. As she shared, 'the breast cancer has metastasized in my spine, ribs, lungs,' and doctors are testing to see if it's spread to her brain. Her first chemo treatment took nearly 12 hours, she shared, and according to a GoFundMe established by a close friend to help her pay for treatment, Caldwell — who had tested positive for the BRCA gene, which means you're more likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer — is expected to undergo radiation and immunotherapy as well. After her seventh chemotherapy treatment, Caldwell shared that she was recovering from a virus that caused her to become 'very ill and I dropped to 86 pounds … fatigue has set in a lot.' The virus was debilitating, a friend shared in a Facebook update after Caldwell's eighth round of chemotherapy. 'Now the neuropathy has set in — her fingers and toes are tingling and numb. On top of that, she's dealing with extreme hot flashes that come in waves and leave her soaked, exhausted, and unable to sleep.' The post continued: 'And as if that wasn't enough, she's still coughing up remnants of the infection she just battled. It's like her body just can't catch a break. But even with all of that… she's still here. Still fighting. Still holding on with everything she's got. And I couldn't be prouder of her.' 'For the most part, I'm optimistic. I want to fight and I want to live,' Caldwell told WSAZ. 'Being so positive isn't about living in denial — it's about being resilient, and I want to show that so much.' 'At night, especially when I'm with my kids,' she said. 'When we're cuddled up at night and I look over at my kids, I just hope I get to see them grow up.' 'I want my story to be a beautiful one no matter how long or short it is.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People
Fox News
40 minutes ago
- Fox News
Eating foods in this order could help with weight loss and blood sugar, experts say
The order in which you eat foods during meals may affect your health, according to some nutrition experts. The concept — known as "meal sequencing" — involves first eating fiber-rich, non-starchy vegetables, followed by protein and then fats, before eating the carbohydrates on your plate. This orderly way of eating may help prevent blood sugar spikes, increase feelings of fullness and help with weight loss, according to nutrition experts who spoke to Fox News Digital. "Starting with vegetables, protein and healthy fats — before eating starches or sugary foods — may help blunt post-meal glucose spikes," Caroline Susie, a registered dietitian based in Dallas, Texas, told Fox News Digital. "This effect is particularly beneficial for people with insulin resistance, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes," said Susie, who is also a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The expert noted, however, that people with diabetes should receive personalized guidance from a medical expert. Elevated blood sugar levels (known as hyperglycemia) after meals can increase an individual's risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a UCLA report. Controlling blood sugar levels can help benefit the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Previous research published in the journal Nutrients found that patients who followed the meal sequencing method — eating vegetables before refined carbohydrates — showed a significant improvement in glycemic control and blood sugar after a five-year period, while the group that did not follow the approach did not show improvement. "What causes the sugar spikes is eating too many carbs." "What causes the sugar spikes is eating too many carbs," Sandra J. Arevalo, a New York-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Fox News Digital. "Eating them alone makes it even worse," she cautioned. "When eating them together with protein and fiber, we are cushioning their effect by slowing their absorption." In addition to lowering blood sugar levels, meal sequencing may also assist with weight loss. Studies have shown that eating protein before refined carbs promotes the secretion of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) from the gut, which delays gastric emptying and suppresses appetite. "When you eat other foods first — mainly fiber-rich foods — and then you drink water, the fiber from the foods helps you feel satisfied, thus decreasing your appetite," Arevalo told Fox News Digital. "And let's not forget that fiber also helps to reduce the absorption of sugar in the blood, helping to cushion your sugar levels." Complex carbohydrates — such as most vegetables, beans and legumes — are rich in fiber and slow to digest, which causes a gradual rise in blood sugar levels, according to the UCLA report. Refined carbohydrates — such as sugar, white rice and white flour — have higher glycemic levels, which are easier to break down and contribute to faster blood sugar spikes. As nutrition experts pointed out, eating fiber before refined carbohydrates can help slow the carbs' absorption, which helps blood sugar levels stay lower during digestion. To assist with healthier food choices and to monitor blood sugar levels after a meal, experts recommend using a food rating system called the glycemic index. This rating scale determines how quickly certain foods can cause blood sugars to rise and fall, according to the UCLA report. For those interested in trying meal sequencing, Susie laid out the following steps. For more Health articles, visit Everyone reacts differently to different meal plans, Arevelo noted. Both dietitians emphasized the importance of working with a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist who can help with planning balanced meals and monitoring blood sugar levels.
