Authorities are investigating the death of a man at a Disney resort near Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, marking the third fatality at the company's properties in less than two weeks. The Orange County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the death, stating that examinations are still ongoing. Social media footage showed a large police presence in a cordoned-off courtyard at Disney's Contemporary Resort, near Magic Kingdom Park.
Earlier in the week, a man in his 60s died at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. His wife found him unresponsive in bed and called 911. Paramedics attempted resuscitation with a defibrillator, but he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The Orange County Sheriff's Office reported no signs of foul play.
On October 14, Summer Equitz, an Illinois resident, was found dead at the Contemporary Resort in what officials called an apparent suicide. Her body had multiple blunt impact injuries, according to a medical report. Equitz, a theater actor and Disney enthusiast, had described Belle from Beauty and the Beast as her dream role.
The recent incidents follow a fatal accident in July 2023, when Jeffery Vanden Boom of Wisconsin died at the same resort from an accidental fall from a balcony. Separately, in early October, a woman in her 60s died after riding the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, despite CPR being administered by security personnel.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, support is available. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted confidentially on 116 123 or via email at jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline is on 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
