The man wasn’t authorized to go inside the MRI room, but he went in anyway — and it nearly cost him his life.
advertisement
A man from Long Island is in critical condition after he was pulled into an MRI machine on Wednesday, July 16.
The incident took place at a medical imaging center in Westbury. According to Nassau County police, the strong magnetic force of the MRI scanner dragged the man into the machine because he was wearing a metal necklace at the time.
Authorities have not confirmed why the 61-year-old man—who remains unidentified—was inside the MRI room in the first place. Based on current information, he wasn’t supposed to be there when the accident happened.
A witness at the imaging center claimed the man had gone into the MRI room after hearing a patient screaming. That patient is believed to be a relative of his. Despite being told to stay out, the man allegedly ignored instructions and entered the room.
Once inside, he was forcefully pulled toward the MRI machine. Police say he then suffered a 'medical episode' and was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency care.
As of the most recent update from PIX11, the man remains in critical condition.
The man was wearing a metallic necklace
Getty Stock Photo
advertisement
Staff at North Shore University Hospital, speaking with CBS News, stressed how dangerous it is to go into an MRI room without clearance or proper preparation.
Dr. Payal Sud explained: "The dangers could be catastrophic and it underscores why we have all the safety precautions in place."
The hospital also emphasized that all metal and electronic items—including jewelry—must be completely removed before someone is allowed into an MRI machine. These rules are crucial for safety.
In addition to jewelry, MRIs can also pose serious risks to people using oxygen tanks or wheelchairs. Charles Winterfeldt, the hospital's director of imaging services, explained: "It would act like a torpedo trying to get into the middle of the center of the magnet."
Dr. Sud pointed out that if a metal chain is around someone's neck when it's pulled by the machine’s force, it can cause serious injuries. These could include strangulation, asphyxiation, or even damage to the spinal cord in the neck area.
To better understand how intense the magnetic field inside an MRI really is, the University of California, San Francisco's Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging offers this explanation: "The static magnetic field of the MRI system is exceptionally strong. A 1.5 T magnet generates a magnetic that is approximately 21,000 greater than the earth's natural field."
There are a number of precautions when it comes to MRI machines
Getty Stock Photo
The department adds that even something as small as a paperclip can become a dangerous projectile, flying through the air at speeds up to 40 miles per hour.
Despite how powerful and potentially hazardous these machines can be, CBS News also noted that injuries or deaths caused by MRI scanners are rare, especially ones linked to items like jewelry.