Keith McAlister Obituary, Death; – A 61-year-old man tragically lost his life after being drawn into an MRI machine in Westbury.
Authorities responded to a 911 call at Nassau Open MRI, located at 1570 Old Country Road in Westbury, on Wednesday, July 16. A man had entered the MRI room wearing a large metallic chain around his neck while a scan was underway.
The individual, identified in various reports as Keith McAlister from Hempstead, was taken to the hospital, where he was initially reported to be in critical condition. According to police, he was pronounced dead the following afternoon.
Nassau Open MRI has chosen not to comment on the incident. The victim’s wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, shared in an interview with News 12 that she was undergoing the scan and had requested her husband to assist her in getting up.
She recounted that her husband entered the room and was subsequently pulled into the machine. Despite her and a technician’s efforts to rescue him, they were unable to do so. “He went limp in my arms,” Jones-McAllister stated during the interview. Monday, July 21, marked the beginning of MR Safety Week, which was initiated following the MRI-related death of a six-year-old in 2001.
Samantha Bodden, who identified herself as Jones-McAllister’s daughter, launched a GoFundMe campaign for McAlister that has raised over $4,000.
“Keith was a husband, a father, a stepfather, a grandfather, a brother, and an uncle. He was a friend to many. He was living on a fixed income from Social Security and had limited resources. Therefore, my mother is seeking assistance with expenses to facilitate his burial. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated, and we thank you for your understanding during this difficult time of loss,” Bodden expressed.
