Featured Image Credit: Fox 35 Orlando
Topics: Disney, Disneyland, US News, Health, Parenting
Olivia Burke
Topics: Disney, Disneyland, US News, Health, Parenting
A mum has told of her horror after being forced to finish a rollercoaster ride next to her five-year-old son's limp body when his 'heart stopped' around 20 seconds after the ride started.
Christine Tagle explained she was unable to rouse her little boy Ernesto after he suddenly became unconscious shortly after climbing onto their 'favourite' Guardians of the Galaxy coaster at Disney World Orlando.
She had been visiting the theme park in Florida with her family on 21 September when the terrifying incident occurred.
In a Facebook post detailing the ordeal, the mum explained she was unable to get the five-year-old to 'wake up' after noticing that he had 'passed out'.
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Reliving what has to be every parent's worst nightmare, Christine explained she couldn't feel her son's pulse.
"He'd ridden the ride before, so I really didn't understand what was going on," she told Fox 35 Orlando. "We had to complete the ride - like there's no way to stop it or get off of it.
"I was screaming, hitting him, and saying something’s wrong."
After an agonising wait for the rollercoaster to end, the mum told how she frantically hauled Ernesto out of the carriage and began desperately 'screaming for help' before beginning to perform CPR on him.
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Quick-thinking Disney staff then rushed over with an automated external defibrillator (AED) and shocked the youngster to kickstart his heart, while the little lad's father - who is also named Ernesto - ran off to find more help.
Fortunately, the dad found an off-duty nurse and a paramedic, who helped the parents continue resuscitation efforts and 'kept him stable as he began to have seizures'.
Explaining the events in an Instagram post, Ernesto wrote: "This past week has been a rollercoaster for our family. Rollercoaster being the key word. We were able to find another couple to help us get our son breathing again.
"Thank you Melissa Lynn Peters and Terry. We are forever grateful."
The dad said his son was rushed to hospital where he was stabilised, before being transferred to another one via helicopter a few hours later.
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"Test after test was performed to find out the cause and future prevention," Ernesto wrote. "We were not sure if he would be ok when he woke. Brain damage? Heart damage? The unknown was the worst part."
Doctors told the couple that the five-year-old has a genetic heart condition - catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, otherwise known as CTVT - which was triggered during their Disney World trip.
According to the British Heart Foundation, CTVT can cause the heart to go into arrhythmia when the sufferer does too much physical activity, experiences excessive excitement or a lot of stress.
The most common symptoms of the condition are blackouts, palpitations, dizziness and fainting.
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Ernesto's parents - who had no idea that he had CTVT before the rollercoaster incident - have since heaped praise on Disney World staff and the Good Samaritans who helped tend to their little boy.
Christine told social media users: "My son is alive, 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 trained in CPR (parents PLEASE PLEASE get trained if you aren’t).
"Disney always had my heart, but now they own it , they have my thanks, and I am in debt to them forever and ever."
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Little Ernesto underwent surgery and is said to be 'doing well', with medics finding 'no signs of brain or heart damage'.
His dad added: "Even better, this warrior is already home and already asking to ride his motorcycle. We love you so much Ernesto, brother, ET3. You are our miracle child. Not all heroes wear capes is so true in this story.
"Get CPR certified or get a refresher course. You never know when you’ll need it."
Christine later revealed that she had been able to track down the heroic bystanders who lent the family a hand, adding that she intended to 'give them hugs and love and say our thanks face-to-face'.