A 54-year-old man died after suffering a cardiac emergency while riding the "It's a Small World" attraction at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, according to Florida officials. The incident occurred on April 2, as detailed in the state's latest quarterly report on theme park injuries and illnesses.
The guest, whose identity has not been released, had a pre-existing heart condition, the report stated. He was transported to a hospital following the emergency, where he later died.
The "It's a Small World" ride, a boat journey through a global display of animatronic children singing, has been a popular attraction at Magic Kingdom since the park's opening in 1971.
The state report also documented other medical incidents at Disney World during the reporting period. In May, a 75-year-old woman hit her head exiting the "Space Mountain" roller coaster, and another woman sustained a head injury on the Snow Stormers water slide in April. In May, a 44-year-old man experienced back pain while riding "Tiana's Bayou Adventure." Additionally, a 74-year-old man with a pre-existing condition reported nausea and vomiting after riding "Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind" in May.
Fatal incidents at U.S. theme parks are infrequent, though deaths related to ride accidents and medical emergencies have occurred previously.