A routine scan turned deadly when a man entered an MRI room wearing a chain — and was subsequently pulled into the machine as his wife watched in horror.
On July 16, 2025, Keith McAllister, a 61-year-old man died in a freak MRI accident in Long Island, New York.
Keith McAllister in a white collared shirt, dark tie, gray vest and black beret. | Source: GoFundMe
McAllister was pulled into the machine by a heavy chain around his neck. He had entered the MRI room to assist his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister.
The tragic accident took place Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Open MRI. This wasn’t the couple’s first visit to the imaging clinic, as Jones-McAllister told News 12.
Adrienne Jones-McAllister and Keith McAllister smiling outdoors. | Source: GoFundMe
According to her, they’d been to Nassau Open MRI multiple times in the past. Her husband had even discussed his heavy chain — which he used for strength training — with staff before.
This time, something went horribly wrong. After Jones McAllister had her knee scanned in the machine, she needed help getting up, so the technician went to fetch Keith (who was outside the room) to come help her.
MRI machine and patient table. | Source: Pexels
The technician brought McAllister into the room. When the man approached the table where his wife was waiting for him, the MRI’s powerful magnet attracted the 20 lb chain.
Things moved fast. In an instant, the machine caused him to turn around, then pulled him in. “He went limp in my arms,” said Jones-McAllister.
Metal chain used in weight and strength training. | Source: Pexels
“I was saying, ‘Could you turn off the machine? Call 911. Do something. Turn this damn thing off!'” McAllister told News 12. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing. He waved goodbye to me, and his whole body went limp.”
The traumatic experience and painful loss have affected her deeply. “I haven’t been able to sleep, I’m barely eating, I just can’t believe,” she added.
Adrienne Jones-McAllister in an interview with News 12, from a video dated July 19, 2025. | Source: YouTube/@News12
Jones-McAllister and the technician spent several minutes attempting to free Keith, but were unable to do so. He was attached to the MRI machine for almost an hour before emergency responders managed to remove the chain.
McAllister suffered multiple heart attacks during the ordeal. He died the next day, July 17, while receiving medical care.
As McAllister’s accident went viral, Jones-McAllister’s daughter, Samantha Bodden, took to Facebook on July 18 to clear up misconceptions. “The way they desensitize a story is crazy,” she wrote.
“No he wasn’t a patient [sic]. My mother was the patient. The procedure was finished when [he] was brought into the room to help my mother off the table because my mother always needs help with stuff like that,” she added.
Adrienne Jones-McAllister in an interview with News 12, from a video dated July 19, 2025. | Source: YouTube/@News12
“She has [sic] to witness her husband being strangled. They leave so much stuff out. R.i.p to him and I pray he’s at peace,” said Bodden.
In a separate post after her mother was interviewed by local news, Bodden accused the imaging clinic of trying to cover up after themselves. In her view, the full story wasn’t being accurately portrayed.
“Was it a freak accident yes [sic]. However him being in that room wasn’t unauthorized. He was brought into the room by the technician,” Bodden wrote.
She added that her and Keith didn’t always get along, but that he didn’t deserve what happened to him, and her mother didn’t deserve to witness it.
Five days after McAllister’s demise, on July 21, Bodden wrote on Facebook that she’d been receiving vast numbers of hateful emails and messages.
“The ones Blaming [sic] my mom or trying to make it seem like she did this purposely are really the ones getting on my nerves,” she added.
The viral response and negative backlash have been so overwhelming that Bodden said she hasn’t been able to respond to many of “the people reaching out with good intentions.”
Bodden has set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help the family with funeral expenses for McAllister. We extend our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.
