A family holiday at Disney World in Florida ended in tragedy when a devoted father choked to death on a steak, after restaurant staff allegedly called security instead of dialling 911 for emergency help.
A Fatal Delay in Emergency Care
Kevin Duncan, a 42-year-old from Ocala, Florida, was dining with his daughter and her dance team at The Boathouse restaurant in Disney Springs on the evening of 8 June. According to a wrongful death lawsuit filed this week, Mr Duncan began choking on his steak, causing a complete blockage of his airway.
While family and friends immediately attempted the Heimlich manoeuvre, employees of the restaurant are accused of contacting on-site security rather than "promptly" calling 911. The legal complaint states this caused a "critical delay" in the emergency medical care Mr Duncan desperately needed.
The Aftermath and Legal Action
The lawsuit, obtained by the Daily Mail, alleges that due to the delay, Kevin Duncan suffered hypoxia and went into cardiopulmonary arrest. He was placed on a ventilator that same day but tragically died on 9 June.
The legal team for Mr Duncan's estate claims the independently owned restaurant, operated by the Chicago-based Gibsons Restaurant Group, failed to implement reasonable emergency response policies and training for choking incidents. The suit demands a jury trial and seeks at least $50,000 in damages for his family.
In a statement to Law&Crime, a spokesperson for Gibsons Restaurant Group said: "We are very sorry for the tragic loss of life, and our thoughts are with those affected. Because this is an active legal matter, we are unable to comment at this time."
A Community in Mourning
Following his sudden death, his daughter's dance studio shared a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook, honouring him as one of their "beloved dance dads". The post described his love, support, and presence as deeply meaningful to their studio family.
A GoFundMe page was established to support his grieving family, raising nearly $20,000. The page remembered Mr Duncan as a man who "lived life to the fullest" and whose greatest joy was his three children.
His obituary noted he was a dedicated worker in his family's air conditioning business and found joy in the outdoors, with a "passion for anything with a motor". Kevin Duncan is survived by his three children, his partner Michelle, his parents, brother, and two nephews. A funeral service was held in his hometown on 21 June.
