4-Year-Old Dies After Epcot Attraction

[Sequoia]

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.

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http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/06/14/national/a061633D10.DTL

[Kraklen]

1. They must have installed a turbocharger on that Epcot ride.

When I went on it, it was slow and painfully boring.

[Kathleen04]

5. Hmm

Thats what I was thinking. I like the ride but I always thought it was VERY mild.

On edit: I was thinking of Spaceship Earth..the ride that slowly winds it's way up the Epcot ball. That ride has been there since the 70s. This ride is the new Mission Space, which I actually have been on and it IS intense. It made me claustrophobic before it even started too, because they shut you into a dark pod. :scared:

[RethugAssKicker]

2. How awful

Was there an age limit for the ride, besides just a height limit. Some of these rides (especially nowadays) are extremely intense and not fit for everyone!

[Drifter]

3. There is ...

I was there last November.

We were trying to decide if this was appropriate for my 10 year old daughter (as she was very close to the recommended age). The parents are neglegent here, because he was no where near the appropriate age to be on that ride.

It was very intense, but I doubt the ride alone could be the cause of his death.

Cheers
Drifter

[mcscajun]

4. Seems like the ride exacerbated some unknown congenital problem

with this kid that made him more susceptible to its effect.

Poor kid. Poor Mom.

I was on that ride once, and I had no plans to go through it again, there was too much pounding on my bones. I wouldn't do Space Mountain again, either: I still recall trying to hang on to the ride and my handbag in the dark, and having little success at the former in favor of the latter. It took a lot of the fun out of it.