Man wearing heavy metallic necklace dies after being sucked into MRI machine

July 21, 2025

A 61-year-old man died after being pulled into an MRI machine at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, New York, when he entered the scanning room wearing a heavy 20-pound metal chain necklace. According to his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, she had called her husband Keith into the room after her knee scan, but the machine's powerful magnetic field attracted his metal chain, causing him to be violently drawn toward the machine, resulting in a fatal medical episode. Police are investigating the incident, which highlights the serious safety risks associated with metal objects near MRI machines, as patients are typically required to remove all metal items before approaching the equipment.

Who is affected

Keith McAllister (the 61-year-old victim)
Adrienne Jones-McAllister (the victim's wife)
Staff at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury
Patients who use MRI facilities

What action is being taken

Nassau County Police Department is investigating the incident
The victim's wife is publicly sharing details about what happened

Why it matters

The incident highlights critical safety risks associated with MRI machines, which generate powerful magnetic fields that can attract metal objects
It demonstrates the importance of strict safety protocols requiring patients and visitors to remove metal items before entering MRI rooms
The case shows potential gaps in facility supervision and safety enforcement
Similar incidents have occurred before, including a 2001 case where a six-year-old boy died from injuries caused by an oxygen tank becoming a projectile near an MRI

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC