The family of a 61-year-old man who died after being pulled into an MRI machine has shared new claims about what they say happened moments before the incident. Keith McAllister was at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, Long Island, on July 16 while his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, underwent a knee scan. According to relatives, he was in a separate room until an MRI technician allegedly brought him into the scan room to help Adrienne off the table after the procedure. The family says McAllister was wearing a heavy metal chain used for weight training and that he was not instructed to remove it before entering. They allege the MRI’s powerful magnet drew him toward the machine, leaving him critically injured.

Police described the event as a “medical episode,” and reports state McAllister later died after suffering multiple heart attacks. In the days following, Adrienne’s daughter, Samantha Bodden, created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses and to support her mother, who the family says is overwhelmed by grief and costs. In the fundraiser, Bodden claims some coverage has suggested her stepfather was not authorized to be in the MRI room, but she insists he was allowed in because a staff member reportedly escorted him there. She also alleges that Adrienne and a technician tried for several minutes to free him and that he remained attached to the machine for a prolonged period until emergency responders could help. The facility has reportedly been contacted for comment as questions continue about safety procedures and communication before the incident.