The grieving mother of a father-of-three who choked to death at a Walt Disney World restaurant is suing, alleging that staff fatally delayed calling emergency services.
A Fatal Dinner at The Boathouse
On the evening of 8 June 2025, Kevin Lee Duncan, a 42-year-old HVAC technician from Florida, was dining at The Boathouse in the Disney Springs complex when he began choking on a piece of steak. According to a lawsuit filed by his mother, Reah Duncan, family and friends immediately attempted the Heimlich manoeuvre to dislodge the obstruction.
However, the legal complaint alleges that instead of promptly dialling 911, employees at the upscale waterside restaurant first contacted security. This crucial delay, stated to be more than two minutes, meant that by the time proper medical help was summoned, Kevin Duncan had suffered severe hypoxia and cardiopulmonary arrest.
Allegations of Negligence and a Legal Battle
The lawsuit, initially filed in Orange County Circuit Court on 23 October and moved to federal court in Orlando on 31 December, contends that The Boathouse breached its duty of reasonable care. In Florida, this duty includes summoning emergency medical assistance for a patron in obvious distress.
Shockingly, the filing further claims that at least one employee advised against calling 911 during the incident. It also states the restaurant did not have a defibrillator on-site and that management deleted surveillance footage of the choking incident.
Kevin Duncan was rushed to hospital and placed on a ventilator but died the following day. His obituary remembered him as a lover of the outdoors and a dedicated family man who cherished working in the family's A/C business.
Restaurant Response and Ongoing Proceedings
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for the Gibsons Restaurant Group, which operates The Boathouse, told The Independent: "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." Disney is not named as a defendant in the suit.
Lawyers for The Boathouse have filed a motion to dismiss the case, citing procedural issues. Reah Duncan's suit, however, presses forward with claims of negligence, wrongful death, and negligent training. She is seeking damages for loss of earnings, companionship, and medical expenses, and has requested a jury trial.
A GoFundMe campaign set up for Duncan's children had raised nearly $19,045 of its $20,000 goal. The Boathouse, one of America's highest-grossing independent restaurants which served around 1 million meals in 2025, now faces a legal and public relations challenge following this tragic event.
