In a troubling development, a sixth fatality has been reported at Walt Disney World in just four months, raising concerns over safety at the popular theme park. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident as a potential suicide after receiving a call to the park on Friday around 9pm. This marks the sixth death at the Orlando resort within a short span of four months.
Authorities are considering shutting down the Disney Springs area to ensure visitor safety and conduct a thorough forensic investigation, according to Inside the Magic blog.
The first tragic incident occurred on October 14 when a Disney enthusiast, Summer Equitz, aged 31, ended her life at the Contemporary Resort Hotel. She had traveled from Illinois to the resort, where she had previously spent her honeymoon, without informing her family.
Following that, an aspiring NFL referee took his own life at the same hotel on October 23. Additionally, on October 21, a 60-year-old man passed away after a medical emergency at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. He was found unresponsive by his wife and had a history of hypertension and end-stage liver disease.
Another death was reported on November 2 when a woman was discovered unresponsive at the Pop Century Resort, later succumbing in the hospital with no signs of foul play. Another individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, died at the Saratoga Springs Resort on November 8.
In a separate incident, a Disney World employee was injured while trying to prevent a large prop boulder from rolling into seated spectators during the Indiana Jones live show. The worker at the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” in Disney’s Hollywood Studios was struck by the 181kg boulder as it veered off track towards the audience. Subsequently, the show’s schedule was altered to exclude the prop boulder, and an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
Disney issued a statement emphasizing their focus on the injured cast member’s recovery and the importance of safety in their operations. They assured that modifications would be made to enhance safety measures based on a thorough review of the incident.