A Florida mother revealed the shocking moment she was forced to finish a roller coaster next to her son’s limp body after he fainted during the ride.
Christine Tagle said the dramatic episode unfolded on September 21 at Disney World Orlando, after her family boarded their “favorite” Guardians of the Galaxy attraction.
About 20 seconds into the trip, her 5-year-old son Ernesto passed out, and she said in a Facebook post that “during the entire trip I couldn’t wake him up.”
The panicked mother said she “screamed for help” as soon as the roller coaster ended, as staff members sprang into action and shocked her with an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Ernesto Tagle, 5, passed out last month during a roller coaster ride with his family at Disney World Orlando, prompting a frantic effort to revive him at the resort.
The young man suffered a medical emergency while riding the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction (pictured), as his mother said she was allowed to finish the ride next to her son’s inert body.
Fortunately, Ernesto survived the ordeal, which his parents say was due to the quick thinking of his mother, staff members, an off-duty paramedic couple, and the paramedics.
When Christine took her son off the ride, she said staff joined her as she laid him down in a hallway and began CPR, and staff also used an AED to restart the 5-year-old’s heart.
She said her husband, also named Ernesto, found a couple who were a nurse and paramedic during the frantic episode, and they rushed to help when their son began having seizures while waiting for paramedics.
First responders arrived at the scene and continued CPR efforts until Ernesto was taken to the hospital by helicopter, his father said in a post. instagram.
After ‘test after test’ to determine why Ernesto fainted on the trip, it was discovered that he suffers from a genetic heart condition (catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or CTVT) that flared up during his family trip to Disney World.
The boy’s parents, Christine and Ernesto, said they quickly performed CPR on their son, while others joined their efforts, including staff members, an off-duty paramedic couple and paramedics.
Ernesto was taken by helicopter to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery after undergoing ‘test after test’
In images shared by the family on social media, Ernesto was initially seen in poor condition, with a series of tubes and medical equipment around him as he lay unconscious.
But fortunately, after emergency surgery at another hospital, Ernesto recovered well and his father said he is “fine with no signs of brain or heart damage.”
And he added: “Better yet, this warrior is already home and already asking to ride his motorcycle.”
In later pictures, the relieved father shared images of his son smiling from his hospital bed and finally leaving the hospital with an assortment of teddy bears.
Tests found that Ernesto suffered from a genetic heart condition: catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or CTVT.
Ernesto’s parents shared images of the boy after his miraculous recovery, including this smiling photo as he left the hospital, as they said he is “doing well and with no signs of brain or heart damage.”
After Ernesto’s quick recovery, his father said that ‘he is already asking to ride his motorcycle’
Both parents took to social media after the panic-inducing near-miss to share their relief and gratitude to those who helped rescue their son, and both urged other parents to get CPR training.
His mother Christine said: ‘My son survived because when his (we now know) genetic heart condition occurred we were at Disney where there is an AED everywhere.
‘My son is alive because we were at Disney with trained personnel. My son is alive thanks to this couple. My son is alive because I was trained in CPR (parents, PLEASE get trained if you are not).’
Ernesto’s father added in his post that he was particularly grateful to the couple who stepped up to help, adding: “Not all heroes wear capes.”