In a heartbreaking turn of events, a devoted father lost his life after choking on a steak while dining at Disney World, as revealed by a new lawsuit. The incident took place in front of his daughter, who was with him for a dance competition at the renowned resort.
Kevin Duncan, a resident of Ocala, Florida, was at Disney World with his daughter and her dance team when tragedy struck. On the evening of June 8, the group was dining at The Boathouse restaurant, a well-known spot in Orlando’s famed theme park. It was there that Duncan began to choke on his steak, leading to a blockage in his airway, according to details from the lawsuit reported by the Daily Mail.
Witnesses, including family and friends, quickly attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on Duncan in a desperate bid to save him. However, instead of immediately calling 911, restaurant staff contacted security, a decision the lawsuit claims caused a crucial delay in providing the 42-year-old father with the urgent medical care he required.
The lawsuit further details that due to this delay, Duncan suffered from hypoxia and radiopalmar arrest. Despite efforts to save him, he was placed on a ventilator and tragically passed away the next day on June 9.
Because of that, Duncan suffered hypoxia and radiopalmar arrest, the complaint stated.
The late father was placed on a ventilator that same day, but sadly died on June 9.
Now, the legal team defending Duncan’s estate claims the restaurant, which is independently owned by Chicago-based Gibsons Restaurant Group and located at Disney Springs, failed to ‘implement reasonable emergency response policies and training for choking incidents’, and did not ‘promptly summon EMS,’ the lawsuit stated.
The wrongful death lawsuit against the eatery has demanded a jury trial and that his family is awarded $50,000 in damages.
Following his sudden death, his daughter’s dance team shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook calling him one of their ‘beloved dance dads’
Kevin Duncan, of Ocala, Florida, tragically choked to death on a piece of steak at The Boathouse restaurant in Disney Springs on June 8
Instead of calling 911, restaurant employees contacted security, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday (Pictured: The Boathouse Restaurant)
Following his sudden death, his daughter’s dance team shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook calling him one of their ‘beloved dance dads’.
‘Our hearts are incredibly heavy as we mourn the sudden and tragic loss of one of our beloved dance dads, Kevin Duncan. His love, support, and presence meant so much to our studio family and will be deeply missed,’ the company wrote alongside a loving photo of him with his daughter.
The dance company went on to promote a GoFundMe page that was created to help out his grieving family.
‘Kevin Duncan was truly one of a kind! He lived life to the fullest, made every room brighter, and had a heart of Gold,’ the page read.
‘But above all, Kevin’s greatest joy was his children – He loved them to the moon and back.’
As of Thursday afternoon, nearly $20,000 had been raised for the family.
Duncan is survived by his three children, his partner Michelle, his mother and father, his brother, and his two nephews, ‘who admired him deeply and looked up to him as a role model,’ according to his obituary.
Other than supporting his children, Duncan found joy in the outdoors and also had a ‘passion for anything with a motor’.
Duncan is survived by his three children, his partner Michelle (pictured together), his mother and father, his brother, and his two nephews, ‘who admired him deeply and looked up to him as a role model’
‘If it has a wheel or moved he was all in. Whether he was exploring trails in a side-by-side, cruising across the water in a boat, or casting a line on a quiet fishing trip, he was in his element,’ the obituary read.
He’s also been remembered as a hard worker who took pride in his job at his family’s air conditioning business.
‘He was deeply committed to the work they did together and played a vital role in helping it grow. Working alongside those he loved meant everything to him,’ the page detailed.
A funeral service was held for Duncan on June 21 in his hometown.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Gibsons Restaurant Group told Law&Crime: ‘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.’
The Daily Mail contacted Gibsons Restaurant Group, Edward Combs Jr., the attorney representing Duncan’s estate, and Disney for comment.
