Woman who died after Disney ride suffered strokePreliminary autopsy results released
| • Woman dies a day after Disney World ride |
(CNN) -- A 49-year-old woman who died after riding on Walt Disney World's "Mission: Space" ride suffered a stroke linked to her high blood pressure, according to preliminary autopsy results released Friday by the Orange County medical examiner. Hiltrud Bluemel of Germany was taken to a hospital after riding "Mission: Space" at the Lake Buena Vista, Florida, park on Tuesday. She died the following day. An autopsy performed Friday "confirmed the hospital diagnosis of hypertensive bleeding within the brain," said a statement from the medical examiner's office. "There was evidence of severe, long-standing high blood pressure. There was no evidence of trauma." The official cause and manner of death are pending, as tests will be conducted on Bluemel's organs, including her brain, the medical examiner said, as well as complete toxicology testing. The results of those tests are expected in four to six weeks. Walt Disney World reopened the ride Thursday after a thorough inspection by engineers and ride system experts. The ride was found to be operating properly, Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said. (Watch how the intense ride mimics space travel -- 2:06) The ride, which opened at Disney's Epcot Center in 2003, simulates astronomical adventures such as a rocket launch and a mission to Mars. A 4-year-old boy died last June after going on the same ride. An autopsy found that he died due to a heart condition.
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