In a devastating incident this week at Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort in Florida, a 39-year-old man was found dead on the hotel grounds. The victim has been identified as Jeffery Vanden Boom of Greendale, Wisconsin. According to the Orange County Medical Examiner, Vanden Boom succumbed to blunt force trauma, which has been ruled as an accidental fall from a hotel room balcony.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded promptly to the call, arriving at the Contemporary Resort at 5:33 a.m. on July 26, 2023. Unfortunately, Vanden Boom was pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding the tragedy remain under investigation.
Disney, however, has been relatively tight-lipped regarding the incident, as the company reportedly did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comments. This silence has raised questions among the public and the media, leaving them eager for more information on the matter.
In the aftermath of the incident, reports surfaced on social media, with users claiming to be guests at the Florida property at the time. These individuals described a concerning scene where the fifth-floor sky bridge connecting the Bay Lake Tower to the main building was closed off for police investigation. The Reddit user who made the post detailed being warned about a medical emergency and directed away from balconies. A tent was set up beneath a balcony, adding to the sense of unease surrounding the incident.
This unfortunate event is not the first incident to occur at Walt Disney World in recent times. In September of the previous year, an 83-year-old Florida veteran named Joseph A. Masters tragically lost his life while riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover in the Magic Kingdom. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported that Masters fainted during the ride, prompting his wife, Alice, to call for assistance. Despite immediate CPR and response from Disney staff and security, Masters was later pronounced dead at Celebration Hospital.
Masters’ wife expressed her grief, emphasizing that her husband had cherished Walt Disney World as his “happy place” due to his love for Disney. Masters had a history of medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and a pacemaker, which were contributing factors to his passing.
These incidents have undoubtedly raised concerns about safety measures at Walt Disney World. As investigations continue into the recent tragedy at the Contemporary Resort, authorities and Disney alike are expected to face scrutiny and pressure to ensure the well-being of their guests while on park grounds.
