Boy, 4, dies after riding Epcot attraction

[imported_elp6n]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) -- A 4-year-old boy died after passing out while aboard Walt Disney World's "Mission: Space" attraction -- a ride that has caused previous concerns because of its intensity.

Daudi Bamuwamye passed out Monday afternoon while on the attraction, which simulates a rocket launch and trip to Mars. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said his mother carried him off the ride and employees helped her place him on a bench.

Paramedics tried to revive him, but he died about 5 p.m. at Celebration Hospital.

The sheriff's office said the boy did meet the minimum 44-inch height requirement for the ride at the Epcot theme park, which simulates twice the normal force of gravity.

A cause of death could not be immediately determined and an autopsy was expected Tuesday.

Officials said the boy was from Pennsylvania, but his hometown was not immediately available. He was on the ride with his mother and sister.

The $100 million ride, one of Disney World's most popular, was closed after the death.

In 2003, Disney began placing motion sickness bags in the ride. During an eight-month period in 2003-04, six people over age 55 were taken to the hospital for chest pain and nausea after riding it, though none of them was found to have any serious injuries.

It was the most hospital visits for a single ride since Florida's major theme parks agreed in 2001 to report such problems to the state. Updated figures were not immediately available.

Signs warn visitors about the intensity of the ride.

"For safety you should be in good health, and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that can be aggravated by this adventure," one sign on view last year said.

Disney officials in a statement after the boy's death that they are "providing support to the family and are doing everything we can to help them during this difficult time."

[MikMo]

"providing support to the family and are doing everything we can to help them during this difficult time."

Just trying to get out of a lawsuit.

[imported_elp6n]

From the article it kinda sounds like they let the kid slip through, since he didn't meet the height requirement.

I went on that ride once - I had to be talked into it, and that took a long time. Quite frankly all the "warning" signage around the ride was frightening enough in itself.
The ride simply isn't appropriate for a 4 year old.

[MikMo]

Says in the article that the sherriffs dept. said that the boy did meet the 44 inch height requirement.

[imported_trio]

Someone died on this ride before. I remember hearing about it

[imported_six4three]

what idiot of a parent would put their 4 year old child on this ride????

[Big_AL]

I could not agree with all of you more. The sad thing is she had to carry her son off the ride then he died an hour later. i heard that on cnn today.

[PVVikeFan]

That it terrible. How sad.