Long Island man critically injured after entering MRI room without permission and being sucked into machine, cops say
The incident occurred at Nassau Open MRI around 4:30pm Wednesday, according to Nassau County police. The magnetic pull of the MRI machine dragged the man into the machine by way of his metal chain.
The man was not supposed to be in the room, and it is unclear based on initial reports why he entered.
Police said the man suffered a "medical episode" and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He was last described as being in critical condition, PIX11 reports.
MRI machines are designed to find ailments in the body using powerful magnets. The magnets create a strong magnetic field which is used in scanning bodies.
The machines can then produce an image of a person's soft tissue that allow doctors to look for abnormalities, like tumors, or damage to internal organs, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.
A 61-year-old man in New York was injured when he entered a room with an active MRI machine while wearing a metal chain around his neck. (stock image) (AFP via Getty Images)
'The magnetic field extends beyond the machine and exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects; it is strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room,' the institute explains.
This is why MRI technicians are thorough when making sure that patients have no metal on their person — or inside their bodies — before they are imaged using an MRI machine.
"The static magnetic field of the MRI system is exceptionally strong. A 1.5 T magnet generates a magnetic that is approximately 21,000 greater than the earth's natural field," according to the University of California, San Francisco's Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging.
The department noted in a write-up about the potential hazards of MRI machines that magnetic metal objects "can become airborne projectiles". Even small objects — like paper clips or hairpins — can reach a terminal velocity of 40mph when pulled by an MRI's magnets.
In addition to the potential dangers from flying metal, MRI machine magnets can also erase credit cards, destroy phones, and shut down pacemakers.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time Magazine
11 hours ago
- Time Magazine
Journalists In Gaza Are Documenting Their Own Starvation
Last month, unable to carry the weight of two cameras, a work laptop, and his body armor, Gazan photojournalist Bashar Taleb made the decision to prioritize his health over his work. The 30-year-old, who has worked with Agence France-Presse since 2010, had lost 35 pounds, he says, and began to calculate the distances he needs to cover. 'Can I make it back home, or not? Will I be able to find a means of transportation, or not?' He describes feeling weak and dizzy every day. The starvation forecast from over a year ago has now taken hold in Gaza. The U.N. World Food Programme this week said 100,000 women and children suffer from acute severe malnutrition, and a third of the territory's 2.1 million residents have missed meals for more than multiple consecutive days. On Wednesday, at least 10 Palestinians died of starvation, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, raising the total number of hunger-related deaths to 113, including at least 80 children. Journalists like Alkahlut, who lives in Al-Karama, North Gaza, are facing starvation along with the community they cover. 'Today we ate one meal, that's enough for us to live another day,' says Khalil Alkahlut, who works for the Anadolu Agency, a state-run Turkish news agency headquartered in Ankara. The 22-year-old photojournalist estimates that he has lost 60 pounds, speaking to TIME on Tuesday, Alkahlut was, like his three younger brothers, getting by on one serving of lentils a day, no breakfast, and no dinner. 'Tomorrow, I don't know what we will eat.' With international journalists barred by Israel from working independently in Gaza, local reporters are providing first-person accounts of hunger—provided they still have the strength to work. On Monday, the Société des Journalistes de l'Agence France-Presse, the union of Agence France-Presse, warned that AFP's remaining freelance staff in Gaza were at risk of death from malnutrition. Taleb posted on Facebook that his "body is thin" and he can "no longer work." 'Hunger is the hardest thing I've ever experienced,' Taleb tells TIME from Jabaliya, a city about two miles north of Gaza City. 'We [must choose] between death by starvation or death by killing in an attempt to get food from aid trucks.' Since barring international aid agencies and taking over food relief operations, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians gathering to seek food, the UN reports. The distribution system—managed by the newly-established U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—has been widely criticized by the UN as an opaque mechanism that concentrates aid in a handful of guarded areas and violates core humanitarian principles. On the ground AFP currently maintains ten freelance journalists in Gaza—one writer, three photographers, and six video freelancers within the territory. Many international news organizations withdrew their foreign staff from Gaza in 2024 under Israel's bombardment, leaving local Palestinian journalists as the primary source of information for global audiences. More than 173 of them have been killed.'Journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in warzones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them,' read a statement issued Thursday by the BBC, Reuters, AP and AFP. While declining to provide TIME with contacts for the local journalists working in Gaza, a Reuters spokesperson noted that 'We are providing our contributors with additional financial support to help them and, should they wish to leave the territory, we will provide any assistance possible to help them get out.' According to the union's statement, AFP's Gaza-based journalists receive monthly salaries but face the reality that "there is nothing to buy, or only at completely exorbitant prices." When journalists withdraw their funds from the few remaining cash points to purchase whatever food is left, they're also met with exorbitant withdrawal fees. 'When I go to withdraw $1000 from my bank account, I only receive $550 in cash,' Taleb says. 'This is also a big problem.' Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news channel that Israel has made moves to ban, released a statement Wednesday calling for global action to protect their journalists in the region. 'I haven't stopped covering for a moment in 21 months,' Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif wrote online. 'I am drowning in hunger, trembling in exhaustion, and resisting the fainting that follows me every moment … Gaza is dying. And we die with it.' The broader hunger crisis Famine has not been officially declared in Gaza primarily because, with international aid groups largely barred, the collective Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system lacks sufficient verifiable on-the-ground data to meet the technical thresholds for a formal declaration. The hunger crisis has intensified since March, when what humanitarian organizations describe as an aid blockade began, pushing Gazans into what the World Health Organization has described as a 'dangerous cycle' following the reduction of aid distribution points from 400, during the spring ceasefire, to just the four military-controlled sites currently operating. That system was put in place at the end of May. Under it, Israel restricts the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) to delivering only 1,600 calories per person daily—significantly below the standard humanitarian requirement of 2,100 calories. Distribution, besides being lethal, is uneven, with reports of aid being diverted or stolen before reaching intended recipients. Israeli Government Spokesman David Mencer was asked Wednesday about mass starvation in Gaza. Speaking from Jerusalem, he said he wanted to talk about "facts, not fiction." On Wednesday, more than 100 NGOs released a joint statement pleading with the Israeli government to allow food, water, medical supplies and other life saving aid into the Strip. The statement quoted an aid worker providing psychosocial support to children in Gaza: "Children tell their parents they want to go to heaven, because at least heaven has food. The statement of the AFP's union observed: "None of us can recall seeing a colleague die of hunger.'


USA Today
13 hours ago
- USA Today
Family of man sucked into MRI machine speaks on 'heartbreaking incident'
"He was a friend to many," Keith McAllister's stepdaughter said. The family of a man who died after being sucked into an MRI machine by a large metallic chain around his neck has spoken out. Keith McAllister, 61, was "tragically killed" on July 16 when he went to visit a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) medical facility in Westbury, New York, according to the Nassau County Police Department and a GoFundMe started by the man's family. McAllister succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital on July 17 at 2:36 p.m., according to police. Family issues statement on tragic incident The McAllister family's attorney, Michael Lauterborn, shared a statement with USA TODAY on Thursday, July 24. "The McAllister family and their friends are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Mr. Keith McAllister, who passed away following a preventable incident at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, New York," the statement reads. "We ask the public and friends to keep Mr. McAllister's wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, and the entire family in their thoughts and prayers during this profoundly difficult time. The family is truly grateful for the outpouring of heartfelt condolences received from the community and from across the country." According to the family's statement, they and their attorneys are "ensuring that all facts surrounding this incident" are being investigated by police and the New York State Department of Health. "This heartbreaking incident highlights the critical importance of safety protocols in medical imaging facilities," the statement continues. "The family and our legal team are dedicated to assisting the appropriate authorities in their investigation and in efforts to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future." Who was Keith McAllister? The GoFundMe created by McAllister's stepdaughter, Samantha Bodden, says he was "a husband, a father, a stepfather, a grandfather, a brother and an uncle." "He was a friend to many," Bodden wrote on the fundraiser page. According to Bodden, her mother was lying on the table for the MRI when the technician left the room to get McAllister to help get her up. During this moment, the technician allegedly forgot to tell McAllister to remove the chain around his neck, his stepdaughter wrote. "My mother and the tech tried for several minutes to release him before the police were called," Bodden wrote. "He was attached to the machine for almost an hour before they could release the chain from the machine." McAllister died after suffering several heart attacks following the incident, according to his stepdaughter. Now, the family is asking for donations to bury him, she added. As of Thursday, July 24, the family has received over $11,000 in donations, only about a $1,000 shy of the GoFundMe's goal of $12,000. Adrienne Jones-McAllister saw MRI machine 'snatch' husband McAllister's wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, told News 12 Long Island that she recalled her husband walking toward the MRI table and seeing the machine "snatch him." "He went limp in my arms, and this is still pulsating in my brain," she said, per the TV station. Jones-McAllister said she had an MRI on her knee and needed help getting up from the table, according to News 12 Long Island. Her husband came into the room wearing the 20-pound chain that he wears for weight training purposes, she told the TV station. "That was not the first time that guy has seen that chain. They had a conversation about it before," Jones-McAllister said about the MRI technician's prior knowledge of her husband's chain. Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund and Mike Snider, USA TODAY Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@


Business Wire
18 hours ago
- Business Wire
Hyperfine Swoop® AI-Powered Portable MRI System Showcased in Clinical Studies Designed to Broaden Access to Dementia Care
GUILFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hyperfine, Inc. (Nasdaq: HYPR), the groundbreaking health technology company that has redefined brain imaging with the first FDA-cleared AI-powered portable MRI system for the brain—the Swoop® system—today announced two significant advancements highlighting the potential of its innovative MRI technology to expand dementia screening, enhance monitoring, and improve care. A new study conducted by the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center is exploring the use of the next-generation Swoop® system to expedite dementia diagnosis in a memory clinic. Globally, over 57 million people live with dementia, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for 60–80% of cases (Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization). Limited access to conventional MRI, particularly in underserved and rural areas, often delays diagnosis and treatment. The Swoop® system addresses these barriers by delivering portable, accessible brain imaging in outpatient settings, including neurology clinics and infusion centers. A new study conducted by the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center is exploring the use of the next-generation Swoop® system to expedite dementia diagnosis in a memory clinic. Led by Dr. Jeffrey Burns, the Accelerated Clinical Evaluations for Alzheimer's Disease (ACE-AD) pioneers an innovative approach that combines in-office MR imaging, cognitive testing, and blood biomarkers into a single nurse-led clinic visit, aimed to improve patient care and ease healthcare system burdens. Dr. Burns highlights the importance of accessibility, stating, "The shortage of cognitive specialists limits our ability to meet growing demand for dementia care. Tools like the Swoop® system could enable scalable, timely diagnoses and earlier treatment, particularly for patients in rural and underserved areas." Additionally, two poster presentations from researchers in the Benzinger Lab at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis will be presented at this year's Alzheimer's Association International Conference, including interim results from the CARE PMR study, which evaluates the use of the Swoop® system for ARIA-E monitoring. Title: The Use of Portable MRI in the Detection and Monitoring of Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities Authors: J. Hu, K. Sharifi, H. Alkelani, et al. Title: Assessing Low-field MRI Volumetric and White Matter Hyperintensity Lesion Measures using WMH-SynthSeg Authors: H. Shimony, S. Keefe, H. Alkelani, et al. 'These studies underscore how the Swoop® system is transforming brain imaging by bringing MRI to serve patients and clinicians across brain conditions where MRI access can significantly improve care,' said Maria Sainz, President and CEO of Hyperfine, Inc. 'Neurodegenerative conditions represent immense clinical and economic burdens for patients, caregivers, and health systems globally. The work that leading clinicians are doing with the Swoop® system in dementia screening and Alzheimer's drug therapy monitoring sets the stage for very large expansion opportunities for Hyperfine.' For more information about the Swoop® system, please visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia. Updated August 15, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2025. ‑dementia/about/ World Health Organization. Dementia. World Health Organization News‑Room Fact Sheets. Published March 31, 2025. Accessed July 22, 2025. About the Swoop® Portable MRI Systems The Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® Systems are U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared for brain imaging of patients of all ages. They are portable, ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging devices for producing images that display the internal structure of the head where full diagnostic examination is not clinically practical. When interpreted by a trained physician, these images provide information that can be useful in determining a diagnosis. About Hyperfine, Inc. Hyperfine, Inc. (Nasdaq: HYPR) is the groundbreaking health technology company that has redefined brain imaging with the Swoop® system—the first FDA-cleared, portable, ultra-low-field, magnetic resonance brain imaging system capable of providing imaging at multiple points of professional care. The mission of Hyperfine, Inc. is to revolutionize patient care globally through transformational, accessible, clinically relevant diagnostic imaging. Founded by Dr. Jonathan Rothberg in a technology-based incubator called 4Catalyzer, Hyperfine, Inc. scientists, engineers, and physicists developed the Swoop® system out of a passion for redefining brain imaging methodology and how clinicians can apply accessible diagnostic imaging to patient care. For more information, visit The Hyperfine logo, Swoop, and Portable MR Imaging are registered trademarks of Hyperfine, Inc. The Swoop logo, Optive AI logo, and Optive AI are trademarks of Hyperfine, Inc. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results of Hyperfine, Inc. (the 'Company') may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as 'expect,' 'estimate,' 'project,' 'budget,' 'forecast,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'may,' 'will,' 'could,' 'should,' 'believes,' 'predicts,' 'potential,' 'continue,' and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's goals and commercial plans, the benefits of the Company's products and services, and the Company's future performance and its ability to implement its strategy. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the Company's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the success, cost and timing of the Company's product development and commercialization activities, including the degree that the Swoop® system is accepted and used by healthcare professionals; the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business; the inability to maintain the listing of the Company's Class A common stock on the Nasdaq; the Company's inability to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the inability of the Company to raise financing in the future; the inability of the Company to obtain and maintain regulatory clearance or approval for its products, and any related restrictions and limitations of any cleared or approved product; the inability of the Company to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; the inability of the Company to maintain its existing or future license, manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements and to obtain adequate supply of its products; the inability of the Company to compete with other companies currently marketing or engaged in the development of products and services that the Company is currently marketing or developing; the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company's products and services, and its ability to serve those markets, either alone or in partnership with others; the pricing of the Company's products and services and reimbursement for medical procedures conducted using the Company's products and services; the Company's estimates regarding expenses, revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; the Company's financial performance; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those under 'Risk Factors' therein. The Company cautions readers that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and that readers should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.