Man Dies After Metal Chain Is Pulled Into MRI Machine

A man’s accidental death occurred during a routine MRI scan when a large metal chain he was wearing was violently pulled into the machine by its powerful magnetic field. Experts say the magnetic attraction was so strong it likely caused his neck to snap, resulting in his death.

The victim, Kevin McAllister, 61, was wearing a 20-pound chain with a padlock around his neck when he entered the MRI room to assist his wife, who was having a knee examination. His family reports he was led into the room by a technician who did not advise him to remove the chain. As he approached the MRI, the magnetic force suddenly yanked the chain with immense strength, pinning him to the machine for over an hour.

According to Dr. Emanuel Kanal, director of Magnetic Resonance Service at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the magnet’s power turned the metal into a lethal projectile. “Even the strongest weightlifter couldn’t prevent this,” he explained, emphasizing that the magnet’s attraction in such a scenario could exert hundreds of pounds of force, enough to cause fatal injuries.

McAllister was trapped for over an hour before being taken to North Shore University Hospital, where he succumbed to multiple heart attacks caused by his injuries and underlying health conditions. His family believes the electrical excitement from being pulled into the machine may have triggered his cardiovascular issues.

The victim’s wife described the tragic moment when her husband went limp in her arms while he was gasping for air. Medical professionals state that such fatalities are extremely rare, with fewer than a dozen reported since MRI technology was introduced in the 1980s. The family also reports that the technician failed to instruct McAllister to remove his chain, which played a crucial role in the accident.