A rollercoaster ride turned tragic for a Florida mother who had to endure the entire thing despite her son passing out soon after it started. The woman, Christine Tagle, said the incident happened on September 21 at Disney World Orlando.
The family had boarded their “favourite” Guardians of the Galaxy ride. About 20 seconds into it, her five-year-old son, Ernesto, passed out. She said in a Facebook post that she tried to wake him up but couldn’t.
As soon as the rollercoaster stopped, she shouted for help. Staff members at the site quickly got into action and gave Ernesto shocks with an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Ernesto’s heart had stopped, as per the post, but he survived the scary ordeal after he got help from the staff members, an off-duty EMT couple and paramedics. His mother also showed quick thinking after getting him off the ride.
Christine laid him down in a hallway and started giving him CPR. The staff also simultaneously started using an AED to restart the 5-year-old’s heart.
Meanwhile, her husband looked around for help and found a couple who were a nurse and EMT. Both of them jumped in quickly to help Ernesto after he started suffering seizures. The family continued to wait for the paramedics.
After they arrived, they continued with the CPR after which he was airlifted to a hospital, his father informed in an Instagram post.
At the hospital, Ernesto was found to be suffering from a genetic heart condition which made him pass out on the ride. He was diagnosed with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or CTVT, that flared up during the trip.
The family shared pictures of the little boy, surrounded by tubes and medical equipment. He underwent emergency surgery at another hospital, and is recovering. His father said he is “doing well with no signs of brain or heart damage”.
His parents tool to social media to thank everyone who helped them and are urging other parents to get trained in CPR.
Christine said, “My son lived because when his (now we know) genetic heart disease presented itself we were at Disney where there is an AED everywhere.”
“My son is alive because we were at Disney with trained staff. My son is alive because of this couple. My son is alive because I was a trained in CPR (parents PLEASE PLEASE get trained if you aren’t).”
