Florida family’s Disney visit turns tragic

A family trip to Disney World in Orlando turned into a near-tragic ordeal for Christine Tagle and her five-year-old son, Ernesto, when a rollercoaster ride became a fight for survival. The incident occurred on September 21, 2024, as the family boarded the Guardians of the Galaxy ride—an attraction they had previously enjoyed. However, just 20 seconds into the ride, Ernesto suddenly passed out, leaving his mother in a state of panic.

Mother’s desperate attempts to revive her son

Christine, who was sitting next to her son, immediately tried to wake him, but her efforts were in vain. “I kept trying to shake him awake, but he was unresponsive,” she later recounted on social media. As the ride came to a stop, Christine screamed for help, setting off a rapid emergency response from Disney staff and nearby medical professionals.

Quick action saves Ernesto’s life

As soon as the rollercoaster halted, park employees rushed to assist Ernesto. Using an automated external defibrillator (AED), they delivered shocks to his heart, which had stopped functioning. Christine, a trained CPR responder, also sprang into action, laying her son down in a hallway and administering chest compressions while staff continued to work with the AED.

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Meanwhile, Ernesto’s father found an off-duty EMT couple among the park’s visitors, who quickly joined the efforts to revive the young boy. After a few harrowing moments, Ernesto’s heart began to beat again, but he suffered seizures as paramedics arrived on the scene. The boy was subsequently airlifted to a local hospital.

A rare genetic heart condition revealed

At the hospital, doctors diagnosed Ernesto with a rare genetic heart condition known as catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). This condition, which is triggered by physical stress or strong emotions, caused Ernesto’s heart to stop during the rollercoaster ride. The boy underwent emergency surgery at another hospital, and his parents later confirmed that he is now recovering well with “no signs of brain or heart damage.”

Parents advocate for CPR training

In the aftermath of the incident, Ernesto’s parents have been vocal about the importance of CPR training and the availability of AEDs. Christine took to social media to express her gratitude for the quick response from Disney staff and the medical professionals who helped save her son’s life.

“My son lived because when his genetic heart disease presented itself, we were at Disney where there is an AED everywhere,” Christine wrote. “My son is alive because we were at Disney with trained staff. And my son is alive because of this couple. My son is alive because I was trained in CPR. Parents, PLEASE PLEASE get trained if you aren’t.”

The family’s harrowing experience serves as a reminder of the importance of having life-saving tools such as AEDs and CPR knowledge readily available in public spaces. As Ernesto continues to recover, his parents are urging others to ensure they are prepared for similar emergencies.