WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) — A tragic incident occurred involving a 61-year-old man, Keith McAllister, who was pulled into an MRI machine while wearing a large chain necklace, leading to his untimely death. According to the Nassau County Police Department, the incident took place on Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Open MRI, where McAllister's metallic necklace drew him toward the machine due to its strong magnetic force.

His wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, shared her harrowing experience during a recorded interview with News 12 Long Island. She was undergoing an MRI on her knee and had called her husband to help her off the table. As he approached, the machine suddenly switched positions, pulling him in and causing him to collide with the MRI unit. “I said: ‘Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, Turn this damn thing off!’” she recalled, visibly shaken as she described how he went limp in her arms after waving goodbye.

After the incident, McAllister was transported to the hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries the following afternoon. Details about the incident were still being processed by the Nassau County Police Department, and they had not released McAllister's name as of Saturday, as per the protocol regarding sensitive information. Meanwhile, a representative from Nassau Open MRI declined to comment on the matter, and attempts to reach the facility by phone were unsuccessful over the weekend.

This incident is not isolated, as it highlights a serious concern regarding the safety of MRI machines. In 2001, a similar tragedy occurred in New York when a 6-year-old boy named Michael Colombini was killed after an oxygen tank was drawn into the machine by its powerful electromagnet. The Colombini family later settled a lawsuit for $2.9 million due to that incident. These past events serve as reminders of the extreme magnetic forces at play within MRI machines, which are designed to create strong magnetic fields potent enough to move or fling objects such as wheelchairs across the room.

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering warns that MRI machines exert powerful forces on metallic objects, which can pose severe risks if proper precautions are not taken. The reality of these dangers becomes strikingly clear in light of recent events. As the investigation into Keith McAllister's tragic death continues, many are left to ponder the implications of safety regulations surrounding MRI technology and the need for increased vigilance in medical facilities.