Family of Long Island man killed in MRI machine mishap while wearing 20-pound chain poised to sue

The family of a Long Island man who was killed when he was violently yanked into an MRI machine by a 20-pound chain around his neck hired an attorney in a likely precursor to a lawsuit.

Keith McAllister, 61, was sucked into the magnetic force of an MRI machine at Nassau Open MRI on July 16, later suffering three heart attacks and dying from his injuries.

Michael Lauterborn, an attorney for McAllister’s widow Adrienne Jones-McAllister, said the family is now seeking “accountability” for the freak accident.

“This heartbreaking incident highlights the critical importance of safety protocols in medical imaging facilities,” Lauterborn, an attorney with Cheung & Laterborn, said in a statement. “The family and our legal team are dedicated to assisting the appropriate authorities in their investigation and in efforts to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future.”

The attorney said the family is “devastated and seeking answers” and called for privacy as they await further information.

Jones-McAllister told local news network News 12 Long Island that her husband had been let into the exam room by a technician to help her get back on her feet at the end of an appointment.

McAllister wore the massive necklace as part of his weight training, his wife told the outlet. Jones-McAllister said she and a technician had struggled to try to free McAllister from the machine for almost an hour.

Nassau Open MRI has not responded to multiple requests for comment.