BOY, 12, IS KILLED IN DISNEY RIDE HORROR; Dad's tragic fight to save dying son.

Byline: By Paula Murray

A BOY aged 12 died on a ride at Walt Disney World in Florida.

But the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster was reopened yesterday after the company said inspectors had found no mechanical faults.

Michael Russell's family were hoping that an autopsy due yesterday would find what had caused him to pass out on the minute-long ride, mostly in the dark, at up to 60mph.

His dad Byron, an Iraq war veteran, said his son was healthy but went limp on the ride on Thursday.

He tried to revive Michael until paramedics arrived. But the boy was pronounced dead at hospital.

Barbara Miller, of Orange County Sheriff's Office, said: "According to the family, he was a very healthy child ... he had no problems."

Disney spokesman Jacob DiPietre said: "Walt Disney World engineers and ride system experts completed a thorough inspection of the attraction overnight and found it to be operating properly."

The death of Michael, whose family live at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, was the latest in a string of tragedies at Walt Disney World in recent years.

At least 15 people have died at Disney's theme parks in Florida and California since 1989. Some had health conditions.

Disney say the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster has the force of a supersonic F-14, with high-speed loops and turns synchronised to an Aerosmith soundtrack.

Theme park consultant David Speigel said: "As roller coasters go, it is not considered an ultra, ultra high-thrill coaster.

"It does have some high launch speeds but it's more along the traditional lines of what rollercoasters are today."

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DEATH RIDE: The rollercoaster, above, and Disney's DiPietre, right SPLASHNEWS