Man dies after riding Expedition Everest

[Timbo]

The run of bad news continues for WDW. Breaking news from the Orlando Sentinel:
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Man dies after riding Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom


Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer

A 44-year-old man has died after riding the Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom today.

The man, who has not yet been publicly identified, was unconscious and unresponsive when his ride vehicle pulled into the unload area at some time this morning, according to Walt Disney World officials.
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Full story here: Man dies after riding Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom -- OrlandoSentinel.com

[mini-V]

It's interesting that he looked fine in the photo taken, but was unresponsive when he pulled into the exit area.

[HdnMickeyGrl]

Oh my gosh. That's terrible. My heart goes out to his family especially with the holidays fast approaching.

[Sorria]

I feel so bad for the family with the holidays approaching. Though I can't say I'm all that surprised....that's the price of thrill rides. You always take that risk.

[Caribbean Lady]

It seems odd, especially that the picture is fairly close to the end of the ride...

My heart also goes out to the family - it's so sad that in such a happy and magical place, something so tragic could happen!

[nicki12]

I also think that was very peculiar that in his picture he was fine but at the end he wasn't. I still think it is sad and my regards go out to the family.

[joanna71985]

This is such a terrible tragedy. The man was at AK with his parents. He rode EE by himself (single rider line) while his parents went to ride something else. They didn't know what happened til they got to EE. My prayers go to the family, and also to the girl who had been sitting next to him. I can not imagine going through that.

[disneydarling]

I didnt see the pictures on the article...just a video??

Either way - his death certainly is tragic - even more so being so close to Christmas...He and his loved ones will certainly be in our thoughts

[Tinker Bell]

This is such a terrible tragedy. The man was at AK with his parents. He rode EE by himself (single rider line) while his parents went to ride something else. They didn't know what happened til they got to EE. My prayers go to the family, and also to the girl who had been sitting next to him. I can not imagine going through that.

I had the same exact thoughts.

[SamIAm717]

It certainly hasn't been a good news week for Disney. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family as this has to be particularly hard given the holidays and the fact that it happened so suddenly. Cherish your loved ones, it only takes a moment to lose them.

[rocknrollercfan]

That is so sad. It is such a shame that this happened around the holidays. Does anyone know if the man had previous medical conditions?

[Sorria]

That is so sad. It is such a shame that this happened around the holidays. Does anyone know if the man had previous medical conditions?

Last I heard they were trying to determine that.

[rocknrollercfan]

OK. I went on Everest many times and it really isn't that bad of a ride. I don't think that the actual ride would be the cause of the man's death.

[DAR]

It - it's so sad that in such a happy and magical place, something so tragic could happen!

It's a very sad situation, I hope for the best for his family. Unfortunately WDW is not immune to real life tragedies such as this.

[Timbo]

More on this from the Orlando Sentinel:
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Autopsy: Man died from heart attack on Disney roller coaster

The Florida Panhandle resident apparently suffered a heart attack on the roller coaster.

Scott Powers and Christopher Boyd | Sentinel Staff Writers
1:15 PM EST, December 19, 2007

The 44-year-old man who died after suffering an apparent heart attack on Walt Disney World's Expedition Everest ride was suffering from an enlarged heart and had a history of heart arrhythmias. The District Nine Medical Examiner's Office said Jeffery C. Reeb, of Navarre, Fla., died of dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that in this case had no known cause.

(Editor's Note: Based on incorrect information from the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the spelling of Reeb's last name was incorrect in an earlier version of this article.)
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Full story here: Autopsy: Man died from heart attack on Disney roller coaster -- OrlandoSentinel.com