WESTBURY, N.Y. – A 61-year-old man has died from injuries sustained after his large, metallic weight-training necklace was forcefully pulled by a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine he had approached. The incident, which occurred at a Long Island imaging center, has prompted a police investigation and highlighted the critical importance of safety protocols surrounding the powerful medical devices.

Nassau County police confirmed that Daniel Collins, 61, passed away on Thursday, July 18, a day after the fatal accident. According to authorities and his wife, Collins was not a patient but was visiting a family member at the facility. He reportedly wandered into the restricted MRI scanning room while wearing the heavy metal chain around his neck.

The immense magnetic force of the active MRI machine immediately attracted the chain, pulling Mr. Collins toward the device and causing catastrophic injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to his injuries the following afternoon.

The Unseen Danger of MRI Technology

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a cornerstone of modern medical diagnostics, using a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to generate detailed images of organs and tissues inside the body. However, the strength of its magnet—often thousands of times more powerful than a standard refrigerator magnet—poses a significant and well-documented risk.

Any ferromagnetic object, which includes items made of iron, nickel, cobalt, and certain steel alloys, can be transformed into a dangerous projectile in the vicinity of an active MRI scanner. This phenomenon is known as the "missile effect."

For this reason, medical facilities enforce extremely strict safety procedures. Patients and any accompanying individuals are typically required to answer detailed screening questionnaires about any metal on or inside their bodies, including jewelry, piercings, implants like pacemakers, or shrapnel from previous injuries. Before entering the MRI suite, individuals are asked to remove all metallic objects, including watches, belts, coins, and phones, and often change into a metal-free hospital gown.

A Preventable Tragedy?

The circumstances that led to Mr. Collins entering the high-risk area with a large metal chain are now the focus of an official investigation. It remains unclear how he was able to bypass the facility's safety checkpoints and enter the scanning room, known as Zone IV, which should be the most restricted area.

A spokesperson for the imaging center issued a brief statement expressing their condolences to the Collins family and confirming their full cooperation with the ongoing investigation by law enforcement and health authorities. They declined to comment further on their specific safety protocols or the events leading to the accident, citing the active investigation.

This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers when safety protocols are not rigorously followed. While MRI-related fatalities are rare, accidents have occurred before. In a widely cited case from 2001, a 6-year-old boy was killed in Westchester, New York, when a portable steel oxygen tank was brought into the scanning room and was pulled into the machine, striking him.

Medical safety experts emphasize that these incidents are almost always preventable through strict adherence to multi-layered screening and access control. The death of Daniel Collins is expected to lead to a thorough review of safety procedures not only at the facility in question but across the medical imaging industry.