A family outing at Walt Disney World turned into a nightmare for a Florida couple when their young son’s heart stopped while riding one of the theme park’s thrilling attractions.
Ernesto Tagle, 5, stopped breathing and started seizing about 20 seconds into riding Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — an enclosed roller coaster in Epcot — leaving his frantic parents fearing for their unconscious son’s life for the remainder of the ride, according to local reports.
“I was screaming, hitting him, and saying something’s wrong,” the boy’s mother, Christine Tagle, told Fox 35 of the Sept. 21 incident.
The Tagle family — who are Disney passholders — thought it was a normal day at the family theme park when they boarded one of their “favorite” rides.
Tagle was sitting a row behind her son when he passed out – leaving her searching for his pulse during the ride, the outlet reported.
The mother performed CPR on her son once the 60-mph coaster ended but was quickly assisted by a passing couple, a nurse and EMT, and a Disney employee who provided an automated external defibrillator to revive the boy’s heart before he was rushed to the hospital via helicopter.
Ernesto was taken to three different hospitals and underwent “test after test” before he was diagnosed with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) — a rare heart condition that can flare up during periods of extreme excitement or activity, the boy’s father, Ernesto Tagle, wrote in a Sept. 27 Instagram post.
The family initially shared photos of an unconscious Ernesto in the hospital wearing a neck brace and surrounded by medical equipment and several tubes before undergoing surgery.
Doctors placed a device in Ernesto’s chest that treats life-threatening heart arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest, the father said, adding that he is recovering with no signs of brain or heart damage.
The relieved father said his “warrior” son is now home and is eager to ride his motorcycle, showcasing photos of a happy and seemingly healthy Ernesto in the post.
The family said they are thankful for the people who sprang into action to save their son.
“We just feel so lucky this didn’t rob us of his smile and energy,” Christine Tagle told Fox 35.