IONIA, Mich. – An 8-year-old boy stopped breathing and died shortly after being on a ride at the Ionia Free Fair, according to the Ionia County sheriff's office.
Deputies were dispatched to the fair's midway about 10:20 p.m. Saturday to assist Blake Miller after he lost consciousness and collapsed.
Emergency personnel administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the Greenville child before taking him to Ionia County Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
An autopsy was performed but the results were incomplete. More forensic tests were planned.
The boy had ridden a swirling and swinging ride called "Fireball" shortly before he stopped breathing. The ride was later examined by an inspector from the state who determined it had no defects, deputies said.
Doug Clark, the fair's director, said Monday he was not aware of any previous ride-related deaths happening there, going back at least 30 years. The annual fair was first held in 1915.
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