How tragic

[daisy2]

I am not criticizing the parent either. But in my opinion a 4 year old is to young to go on a ride like mission space. I was very nervous when I went on it last year and I am 38 years old. I think they need to make it a restriction for children that are under the age of 5 regardless if you are the right height for that ride. That ride was hard on me I don't even want to imagine how that child felt. God Bless him and his family.

 

[Dee8197]

Bonhoga,You are so right that a possible underlying problem may have caused this little boy to die rather than the ride itself. (I assumed that to be the case rightly or wrongly) My purpose in posting this thread originally was not to spoil the magic of the board, but I guess to raise peoples awareness ( for want of a better description ) I'm sorry if it has offended anyone. My concern was based on my own experience
Many years ago we went to visit a theme park, I can't even remember where it was, in the Midlands somewhere. There was a ride there that everyone got into and stood against the side, the ride spun around very fast and the floor was lowered but the persons on the side stayed where they were. The centrafugal force held you to the side of the wall ( Sorry about my spelling )There were warning signs with this ride and I knew not to go on but my husband and sons were not aware that they had any problem. When the ride stopped my sons bounced off they had really enjoyed it, my DH however was a very different story, he was ashen, said that he felt like his chest was being crushed by the pain and felt sick, we put it down to the ride and vowed never to go on it again. Roll the clock forward 10 years and my DH goes to the doctors who refers him to a Specialist because he is complaining of chest pain, no-one was the least bit worried, even the doctors said my DH was perfectly fit and healthy and he was only being referred for tests because he was complaining so much. Imagine everyones shock when we were told he needed a triple heart bypass and that at some point he had ,had a previous heart attack. It turns out that my husbands heart condition is hereditry and that our DS's may develope the same problem, but at least now we are all aware of the possible problem we can take precautions and think twice about rides. It is easy to be wise after the event.
(Sorry, I didn't mean this to be a medical history just a good example of the point that Bonhoga was making, and an explanation for why I posted it in the first place. I doubt very much that it was the actual ride in itself that caused this tragic event but rather the ride that brought some underlying problem to the surface )

 

[bonhoga]

Dee, how could anyone have been offended? I think you posted a very thought provoking thread which has brought out many different viewpoints and allowed us all to show and share a little sympathy - even if not directly with the family.


PS.Hope I didn't come across as offended, really sorry if I did!!

 

[bonhoga]

PPS How could anything spoil the magic of the boards?

Must get the hang of putting everything in one post!

 

[Dee8197]

My son may be tall enough but I am worried that he is too slight and too supple. ( He managed to squeeze through my front door the other day even with the safety chain still on !!!!!) He weighs less than 4 stone and is a gymnast,so he can get to places that others couldn't go ! LOL I'm scared that he'll just slip out or something. Please don't laugh, it may be a stupid question, but I am being serious<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I'm sorry to bounce my own thread and to add an earlier thread to it but......
Iain, Did you take your 8 year old on Space mountain ? Was it OK ? How are they held in ? Sorry folks I know I'm paranoid but I just have a thing about this one ride, and with my DS you have to have a good reason, it's no good saying "Because mummy's scared "
Boghona, no need to appologise, you didn't come across as offended but I thought maybe I should give an explanation.

 

[NIK]

Not a parent myself but I do know how pester power can be a irresistable force. No critique of the parents here as they obviously went by Disney's own guide but I don't think I would have taken such a young child on myself. [I'm a total coward with the rollercoasters so I'm usually the one left holding the bags LOL]

It's such a sad event for the poor family. How they must be beating themselves up over this.

 

[Iain Chapman]

I'm sorry to bounce my own thread and to add an earlier thread to it but......
Iain, Did you take your 8 year old on Space mountain ? Was it OK ? How are they held in ? Sorry folks I know I'm paranoid but I just have a thing about this one ride, and with my DS you have to have a good reason, it's no good saying "Because mummy's scared "
Boghona, no need to appologise, you didn't come across as offended but I thought maybe I should give an explanation.

Oh no.....I'm fairly sure (I made his decision....) he wouldn't like it....based on the idea that we did POTC, and he declared that he wasn't doing that again.....

...I have since convinced him (in light of this topic, perhaps wrongly), that POTC is really tame, and he is now planning to go on it again....whenever that is (come on Disney, wheere is that brochure)..

However - if he'd wanted to go on SM - would we have let him....I'm not sure.

 

[Dee8197]

Thanks Iain

I guess the answer is "Your father can't go on, I won't and shouldn't go on, and soyou can wait until you are much older and having your cholestrial levels tested every year". Do you think he'll buy that
I've made my decision though, hes not going on it, no doubt in future years he will tell me how my decision traumatised him and deprived him, just like his brothers do over my Clarks sandals versus fashion sandals decision LOL

I guess we live and learn, this DS doesn't have Clarks sandals. I couldn't stand the thought of another DS telling me how I traumatised him ! LOL
Thinking about it and knowing my luck he'll probably end up with bunions and blame me for that instead. Who'd be a parent ? ME

 

[Ware Bears]

Thanks Iain

I guess the answer is "Your father can't go on, I won't and shouldn't go on, and soyou can wait until you are much older and having your cholestrial levels tested every year". Do you think he'll buy that
I've made my decision though, hes not going on it, no doubt in future years he will tell me how my decision traumatised him and deprived him, just like his brothers do over my Clarks sandals versus fashion sandals decision LOL

I guess we live and learn, this DS doesn't have Clarks sandals. I couldn't stand the thought of another DS telling me how I traumatised him ! LOL
Thinking about it and knowing my luck he'll probably end up with bunions and blame me for that instead. Who'd be a parent ? ME

Dee, I think you have made the right decision. In a couple more years time you might feel a little more comfortable with him going on it.

By the way, my DD's also have to wear Clarks school shoes and sandals!!!

 

[Dee8197]

Elaine - don't say I didn't warn you

I'm sure you'll go through the " Clarks sandals " thing one day and you will remember this time on the DIS BOARD.

 

[Ware Bears]

Elaine - don't say I didn't warn you

I'm sure you'll go through the " Clarks sandals " thing one day and you will remember this time on the DIS BOARD.

Dee, I don't think it will be too far away!!! DD aged 13 is quite happy to wear Clarks school shoes (or she is at the moment LOL) as all her close friends do too and her school is very strict on uniform. Obviously she can wear fashion shoes out of school. However, DD aged 10 is a lot more "bolshy" and I just KNOW she will not be so easy as my eldest DD. Youngest DD aged 8 is easygoing too but I anticipate that the teenage years will be VERY rocky with my middle DD!!! Eldest and youngest DD take after me, middle DD takes after DH, therefore it will ALL be HIS fault!!!

 

[bonhoga]

Just in case anyones still following this story, this was sent out in the Mickey News this morning..............


"An autopsy on a Pennsylvania boy who died after passing out on a Walt Disney World spaceship ride found no trauma, and more tests will be conducted to determine a cause of death, officials said.
Daudi Bamuwamye, 4, of Sellersville, Pa., passed out Monday on the "Mission: Space" ride, which simulates a rocket launch and trip to Mars. The attraction is so intense that it has motion sickness bags and several riders have been treated for chest pain.

During the ride, Daudi's mother, Agnes, noticed that his body was rigid and that his legs were stretched straight out, but she thought he was just frightened, according to a sheriff's report.

When the ride ended, the victim was limp and unresponsive, and he could not be revived. "

An autopsy Tuesday showed no trauma so further tests will be conducted. A cause of death may not be known for several weeks, said Sheri Blanton, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner in Orlando.

"Now it's going to be a matter of, 'If it wasn't trauma, what did it?"' Blanton said.

 

[Dee8197]

Medicine is not a complete science, they may never get the answer.Whatever the answer may be, tragically it won't change the outcome