Tragic MRI accident claims life of Long Island man wearing heavy metal necklace
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A tragic incident at a medical imaging center on Long Island has left a man dead, sending shockwaves through both staff and family who were unprepared for how quickly the situation unraveled.
According to his wife, a heavy metal chain he wore regularly and without incident may have played a critical role in what happened that day.
What began as a seemingly routine medical visit in Westbury suddenly turned into something no one in the room could have anticipated or stopped in time.
When the machine’s powerful magnetic field engaged, it set off a chain of events that ended in heartbreak within mere moments.
Keith McAllister, 61, had accompanied his wife to Nassau Open MRI for a scheduled knee scan. According to his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, he would routinely assist her after her appointments without incident.
On this visit, McAllister was wearing a 20-pound chain necklace with a padlock, which he often used in weight training. His wife says the chain had been seen by staff at the facility during past visits.
Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island that she and McAllister had discussed the chain with the MRI technician before.
“That was not the first time that guy has seen that chain,” she said, referring to the tech. The two had reportedly spoken about it during earlier appointments. Despite that, no precautions appeared to have been taken before McAllister entered the exam room.
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As the machine ran, McAllister stepped into the room with the technician present. Almost instantly, the MRI machine’s powerful magnet activated and forcefully pulled McAllister in.
Jones-McAllister says both she and the tech tried to remove him from the magnetized machine. Their efforts failed, and McAllister suffered multiple heart attacks on-site.
“I was saying ‘turn off the machine, call 911, do something, turn this damn thing off!’” Jones-McAllister recalled.
The MRI’s magnetic field is strong enough to attract metal objects from several feet away. With the heavy chain around his neck, McAllister had no chance once the magnet pulled him in. The emergency response came too late to save him.
Also read: How one woman’s painful diagnosis is reminding dog owners to take extra care
What safety protocols were in place—or ignored—remains unclear. Medical imaging facilities typically enforce strict no-metal policies in MRI rooms due to risks exactly like this.
Jones-McAllister is now raising questions about how such a lapse could occur after previous visits and conversations. Nassau Open MRI has not publicly commented on the incident.
Read next: A mysterious medical phenomenon left her hand moving on its own—what happened next still stuns experts
Do you think safety protocols around metal objects are clear enough before entering imaging rooms? Should facilities be held accountable when prior discussions about risk are ignored? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you.
According to his wife, a heavy metal chain he wore regularly and without incident may have played a critical role in what happened that day.
What began as a seemingly routine medical visit in Westbury suddenly turned into something no one in the room could have anticipated or stopped in time.
When the machine’s powerful magnetic field engaged, it set off a chain of events that ended in heartbreak within mere moments.
Keith McAllister, 61, had accompanied his wife to Nassau Open MRI for a scheduled knee scan. According to his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, he would routinely assist her after her appointments without incident.
On this visit, McAllister was wearing a 20-pound chain necklace with a padlock, which he often used in weight training. His wife says the chain had been seen by staff at the facility during past visits.
Tragic MRI accident claims life of Long Island man wearing heavy metal necklace. Image source: News 12 / YouTube
Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island that she and McAllister had discussed the chain with the MRI technician before.
“That was not the first time that guy has seen that chain,” she said, referring to the tech. The two had reportedly spoken about it during earlier appointments. Despite that, no precautions appeared to have been taken before McAllister entered the exam room.
Also read: See the horrifying footage: This cooking mistake could lead to a dangerous parasite infection!
As the machine ran, McAllister stepped into the room with the technician present. Almost instantly, the MRI machine’s powerful magnet activated and forcefully pulled McAllister in.
Jones-McAllister says both she and the tech tried to remove him from the magnetized machine. Their efforts failed, and McAllister suffered multiple heart attacks on-site.
“I was saying ‘turn off the machine, call 911, do something, turn this damn thing off!’” Jones-McAllister recalled.
The MRI’s magnetic field is strong enough to attract metal objects from several feet away. With the heavy chain around his neck, McAllister had no chance once the magnet pulled him in. The emergency response came too late to save him.
Also read: How one woman’s painful diagnosis is reminding dog owners to take extra care
What safety protocols were in place—or ignored—remains unclear. Medical imaging facilities typically enforce strict no-metal policies in MRI rooms due to risks exactly like this.
Jones-McAllister is now raising questions about how such a lapse could occur after previous visits and conversations. Nassau Open MRI has not publicly commented on the incident.
Read next: A mysterious medical phenomenon left her hand moving on its own—what happened next still stuns experts
