LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., June 14, 2005

Boy, 4, Dies After Disney Ride

Cause Of Death Unknown In Child Who Fainted Aboard Rocket Simulator

  • Play CBS Video Video Boy Dies At Disney World

    Investigators are trying to determine why a child passed out and died after a simulated rocket ship ride at Disney World in Florida. Some are calling for rides to be regulated, Byron Pitts reports.

  • Video Boy Dies After Disney Ride

    Officials are investigating the death of a 4-year-old boy riding an attraction at Walt Disney World's Epcot center in Florida on Monday. Mike Deforest from WKMG TV reports.

  • Video Boy Dies At Disney World

    CBS News RAW: A 4-year-old Pa. boy died after passing out on the 'Mission: Space' ride at Epcot Center in Disney World, located in Orlando, Fla. WFOR has raw footage of the attraction.

    • An artist's conception of the

      An artist's conception of the "Mission: Space" attraction and ride at Walt Disney World.  (AP)

    • Caution sign at

      Caution sign at "Mission: Space" ride at Walt Disney World  (AP)

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(CBS/AP)  Since the "Mission: Space" attraction opened in 2003, seven people have been taken to the hospital for chest pains, fainting or nausea. That is the most hospital visits for a single ride since Florida's major theme parks agreed in 2001 to report any serious incidents to the state. The most recent case was last summer, when a 40-year-old woman was taken to a hospital after fainting.

"Two Gs is not that big a deal," said Houston-based theme park consultant Randy King, a former safety director at Six Flags, which operates 30 amusement parks.

Disney officials said in a statement that they were "providing support to the family and are doing everything we can to help them during this difficult time." No changes were made to the ride or in who is permitted to ride it.

'We believe the ride is safe in its current configuration," Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said.

More than 8.6 million visitors have gone on “Mission: Space” since 2003, Polak said.

The sheriff's office said the boy, from Sellersville, Pennsylvania, met the minimum 44-inch height requirement for the ride.

The boy's father is Moses Bamuwamye, a finance officer at the United Nations, authorities said.

One other death was reported at Disney World this year. A 77-year-old woman who was in poor health from diabetes and several ministrokes died in February after going on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. A medical examiner's report said her death "was not unexpected."

Florida's major theme parks not directly regulated by the state, and instead have their own inspectors.

©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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