Updated: 11:58 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006 | Posted: 6:38 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. —
The 70-year-old man was treated for injuries at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Investigators said the man was on a conveyor belt, trying to board the ride with his wife and granddaughter, when he fell into the path of the next vehicle on the belt.
Email News Sign-Up Multiple Choices - Auto sign-up (LEFT ALIGN) GET WFTV NEWS HEADLINES BY EMAIL 9 a.m. Headlines Noon Headlines 4 p.m. Headlines News of the Strange Breaking News Alerts Deputies initially said the man suffered life-threatening injuries, but he rapidly improved and is expected to be okay.
A Disney spokeswoman said nothing went wrong with Peter Pan's Flight ride. The man was walking on the moving conveyor belt that lets guests onto the ride. At that point, the man fell and was pinned by one of the cars, which are designed to look like pirate ships. He was trying to get on the ride with his wife and granddaughter.
Disney shut down the ride as they tried to free the man and then airlift him to ORMC. The ride remained closed Tuesday night and Disney promised a full investigation.
"Our primary concern is with the guest and a Disney representative is at the hospital to assist the family," said Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty.
The ride reopened Wednesday morning.
Disney has seen its share of recent accidents. In June of last year, 4-year-old Daudi Bamuwamye died after riding Epcot's Mission: Space. Doctors determined he had a pre-existing heart condition.
In august, 12-year-old Jerra Kirby died at Typhoon Lagoon. She also had a heart condition.
The month before, 16-year-old Leanne Deacon went into cardiac arrest after riding The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. She recovered and returned to her home in Great Britain.