Long Island Man Killed After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine
Westbury, NY — A man died last week after a violent incident at a medical imaging center on Long Island. He was pulled into an MRI machine while wearing a heavy metal chain around his neck.
Police said it happened Wednesday morning at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury. The man, 61, was helping his wife, who had just finished her MRI. Authorities said he stepped into the room during the scan, which he wasn’t supposed to do.
The powerful magnet in the machine grabbed the chain around his neck and pulled him in. He suffered what police called a “medical episode” and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He died the next day.
According to CNN, His name hasn’t been released officially, but News 12 Long Island identified him as Keith McAllister, citing his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister.
She told the station she had just finished her scan and needed help standing up. She said she asked the technician to bring Keith in to assist her.
“I called for him,” she said. “Keith, Keith, come help me.”
She said he was wearing a 20-pound chain he used for weight training. The moment he stepped into the room, the MRI pulled him in.
“The machine just pulled him, slammed him into it,” she said. “He went limp in my arms.”
She and the tech tried to pull him away. “I kept yelling, ‘Turn it off! Call 911! Do something!’”
The staff at the imaging center declined to comment when reached by phone.
MRI Machines and Metal: A Known Risk
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It uses powerful magnets to scan inside the body. That magnetic field is always on and strong enough to pull in anything metal. Even wheelchairs, stretchers, or tools have been pulled across rooms in other incidents.
That’s why most MRI centers are strict about metal. No jewelry, no keys, no implants, nothing metallic. And usually, no unauthorized people in the room.
Still Under Investigation
The Nassau County Police Department is still investigating. It’s unclear if proper safety checks were skipped or if there was a breakdown in communication.
As of now, no one’s been charged. The facility hasn’t released a statement.
Keith McAllister’s death is raising new questions about MRI safety — not just for patients, but for anyone nearby.
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