Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando has been hit by another tragedy, with authorities confirming a sixth death at one of the company's properties in recent months.
Latest Incident at Disney Springs
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported that a body was discovered just before 9 p.m. on Friday, near East Buena Vista Drive in the Disney Springs shopping and dining district. News 6 reported the sheriff's office stated the incident is being investigated as a possible suicide. Officials have said they will not provide additional details at this time. The Independent has contacted Disney World for comment.
A Disturbing Pattern of Fatalities
This latest incident continues a troubling series of deaths linked to Disney properties, predominantly in Florida, which began last autumn. The string of tragedies started on 8 October in Anaheim, California, where a woman in her 60s was found unresponsive on the Haunted Mansion ride and later pronounced dead in hospital.
Just days later, on 14 October, 31-year-old Summer Equitz, a devoted Disney fan from Illinois, died in an apparent suicide at the Contemporary Resort in Florida. A week after that, on 21 October, a man in his 60s suffered a fatal medical episode at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
The chain of events continued on 23 October with the death of 28-year-old Matthew Alec Cohn from Los Angeles. The aspiring football referee and musician allegedly jumped from the 12th floor of the Contemporary Resort. In November, a guest at the Pop Century Resort died after being taken to hospital.
Employee Injury Adds to Safety Concerns
Beyond the fatalities, a separate incident last week raised further safety questions. A Walt Disney World employee was injured after jumping in front of a 400-pound prop boulder that fell off its track during the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!” show. The worker acted to prevent the boulder from rolling into the audience. Another employee managed to stop it before it reached spectators. Disney has not disclosed the extent of the worker's injuries.
If you are based in the USA and need mental health assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, confidential 24/7 crisis line. In the UK and Ireland, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123.
