61-Year-Old Man Dies After Being Pulled Into Active MRI Machine While Wearing Metal Chain in Nassau County

A 61-year-old man has died after a tragic and highly unusual incident at a Long Island medical imaging facility, where he was magnetically pulled into an MRI machine while wearing a metal chain.

The accident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Nassau Open MRI located on Old Country Road in Westbury, according to Nassau County Police.

Detectives say the man entered the MRI room during an active scan, despite strict industry protocols that prohibit metal inside such rooms due to the powerful magnetic fields. The chain around his neck is believed to have triggered the deadly force, pulling him into the machine.

Authorities report the man suffered a medical episode as a result of the incident and was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon.

Police confirmed that the victim was not a patient at the facility, but was accompanying someone else at the time. The case is being treated as a tragic accident, and no criminality is suspected. An investigation into how he was able to access the room during an active scan is still ongoing.

MRI machines use powerful magnetic fields to capture detailed images of the body’s internal structures. These fields are strong enough to pull in ferromagnetic objects with violent force, making safety protocols — including thorough screening for any metal — absolutely critical.

Nearby medical professionals expressed shock at the incident, noting the strict measures typically in place to prevent such accidents.

“If this was a chain that was wrapped around the neck, I could imagine any kind of strangulation injuries that could happen — asphyxiation, cervical spine injuries, blunt force trauma… any of that could result,” said Dr. Payal Sud, an emergency medicine specialist at North Shore University Hospital.

Nassau Open MRI, which operates several locations, has yet to release an official statement.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of improper MRI safety protocols and underscores the critical importance of strict adherence to guidelines — not only for patients but for anyone near the machine.