The mother of a man who choked to death on a steak at a Walt Disney World restaurant has filed a lawsuit alleging that staff delayed calling 911, contributing to his death. Kevin Lee Duncan, 42, was dining at The Boathouse in Disney Springs on June 8, 2025, when he began choking on a piece of steak.
According to the complaint, family and friends attempted the Heimlich manoeuvre but were unable to dislodge the obstruction. Instead of promptly calling 911, restaurant staff initially contacted security, causing a delay of more than two minutes, the suit claims. Duncan suffered severe hypoxia and cardiopulmonary arrest, and died the following day after being placed on a ventilator.
The lawsuit, filed by Duncan’s mother Reah Duncan as executor of his estate, also alleges that an employee advised against calling 911, that the restaurant lacked a defibrillator, and that management deleted surveillance footage of the incident. The Boathouse is owned by Gibsons Restaurant Group, which expressed condolences but declined to comment on the active legal matter.
Attorneys for the family said they are seeking answers and accountability, questioning whether staff were properly trained and whether delays contributed to the death. Disney is not named as a defendant and did not respond to a request for comment. The case was initially filed in Orange County Circuit Court and later moved to federal court.
