Necklace yanks Long Island man into MRI machine in freak accident

A 61-year-old man was critically injured and is fighting for his life after a metal necklace he was wearing pulled him violently into an MRI machine at a Westbury imaging center Wednesday afternoon, according to reports.

Nassau police said the terrifying accident happened just after 4:30 p.m. at Nassau Open MRI, where the man was accompanying someone else for an appointment, ABC7 New York reported.

Police explained that the man entered the MRI room while the machine was active — a critical mistake, as MRI machines generate powerful magnetic fields capable of turning even small metal objects into high-speed projectiles.

As he stepped inside, his necklace was yanked by the magnet’s force, pulling him into the machine. He collapsed on the spot, suffering what authorities described as a serious medical episode, and was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

The man was not the patient scheduled for the scan, officials confirmed.

Police said the incident is not criminal in nature and remains under investigation. It’s unclear how the man gained access to the active MRI suite.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technology is known for its diagnostic power — metal objects, including jewelry, belts, coins, and even implants, must be removed or disclosed before entering the scanning area.

_{Top images: Open MRI in Westbury (Google Maps) and an MRI machine (Pexels).}