Long Island Man Dies in Tragic MRI Accident, Family Blames Technician
The family of Keith McAllister, a 61-year-old Long Island man, is mourning his death following a horrific accident at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury on July 17, 2025. McAllister was fatally injured when the powerful magnetic force of an MRI machine pulled him in due to a metal chain he was wearing, trapping him for nearly an hour. His family claims the tragedy could have been prevented, alleging that the MRI technician failed to warn McAllister about the dangers of wearing metal near the machine.
McAllister had accompanied his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, to the facility for her knee scan. According to their daughter, Samantha Bodden, the technician invited McAllister into the MRI room to assist his wife but neglected to inform him to remove any metal objects. “Several news outlets reported that he wasn’t authorized to be in the room, but that’s not true,” Bodden clarified in a statement. “The technician brought him in.”
In a GoFundMe post created to cover funeral expenses, Bodden described how the MRI’s magnetic field instantly pulled her father into the machine because of the chain he was wearing. Both her mother and the technician attempted to free McAllister but were unable to do so. “They tried for several minutes before calling the police,” Bodden wrote. Despite their efforts, McAllister remained trapped for almost an hour before the chain was removed.
Jones-McAllister recounted her husband’s final moments in an emotional interview on The Big Weekend Show. “I was begging them to turn off the machine, to call 9-1-1, to do something,” she said. “He waved goodbye to me, and then his body went limp.” McAllister suffered multiple heart attacks following the incident and passed away later that day.
The Nassau County Police Department is currently investigating the incident. Nassau Open MRI declined to comment when contacted by Fox News on July 21, 2025.
MRI machines produce intense magnetic fields that can attract metal objects, posing significant risks. The facility’s website explicitly states that all metallic items, including jewelry, hearing aids, and dentures, must be removed before entering the MRI room. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that the strong magnetic fields in MRI scanners can turn metal objects into dangerous projectiles, potentially causing injury to patients or staff and damage to the equipment. However, the FDA notes that such “adverse events” are rare.
Dr. Kenneth J. Perry, an emergency medicine physician in Charleston, South Carolina, emphasized the importance of strict safety protocols to prevent such tragedies. “A robust MRI protocol is critical to ensuring patient and visitor safety,” he told Fox News Digital.
The McAllister family is seeking answers and accountability as they grieve their loss. Bodden’s GoFundMe page continues to raise funds to support funeral costs, while the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.