Keith McAlister, 61, of Hempstead, New York, tragically passed away following a devastating accident at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury. The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 16, when McAlister was pulled into an active MRI machine while wearing a large metal chain around his neck.
Emergency services responded to a 911 call at the facility, located on Old Country Road, where McAlister was critically injured. He was transported to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead on the afternoon of Thursday, July 17.
According to his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, she was undergoing a scan and had asked her husband to help her up. When he entered the MRI room, the powerful magnetic field pulled him toward the machine due to the chain he was wearing. Despite desperate efforts by Jones-McAllister and a technician, he could not be saved. “He went limp in my arms,” she told News 12 in a heartbreaking interview.
The accident has drawn renewed attention to MRI safety, with the tragedy coinciding with the start of MR Safety Week—an annual observance established in memory of a 6-year-old boy who died in a similar MRI-related incident in 2001.
Keith McAlister is remembered as a devoted husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. His stepdaughter, Samantha Bodden, started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses, noting that Keith lived on a fixed income and the family is in need of support during this painful time. The fundraiser has since garnered over $4,000 in donations.
Keith’s sudden and heartbreaking passing serves as a somber reminder of the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols in medical settings. He leaves behind a grieving family and community who will forever cherish his memory.