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Father of three choked to death on steak walt disney world According to his bereaved mother, he would still be alive if restaurant staff had not taken the time to seek appropriate help. She is also now the executor of her son’s estate.
As Kevin Lee Duncan’s dining companions, including his teenage daughter, tried in vain to force food out of his throat, employees at The Boathouse, an upscale restaurant Orlando, Florida Reah Duncan claims in a lawsuit that the theme park ‘failed to immediately call 911’ independent.
delays ultimately lead to cardiopulmonary arrest The lawsuit says the 42-year-old HVAC technician died as a result.
Liz Lombardo Stark, a spokesperson for Gibsons Restaurant Group, owner and operator of The Boathouse in Chicago, said in an email Monday independent“We are deeply sorry for the tragic loss of life and our thoughts are with those affected. As this is an active legal matter, we are unable to comment at this time.”
Attorneys John Morgan and Edward Coombs, who represent the family, said: “Mr Duncan and his family were traveling from Ocala to Orlando to attend a dance competition for his daughter. They were out to dinner with a large group of people when he began to choke and despite the efforts of his friends and family to save him, he died “Many serious questions remain: how the situation was handled, what safety protocols were in place, whether employees were properly trained in situations where patrons could choke, and the Duncan family as they seek answers and accountability for this tragedy and the potential negligence that may have resulted in an avoidable loss of life.”
Disney is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit and did not respond to a request for comment.
Boathouse conception and development The designer behind Rainforest CafeT-Rex Cafe and Yak & Yeti are located in Disney Springs, a large outdoor entertainment, shopping and dining area within the Disney World complex. It is one of the highest-grossing independent restaurants in the country, Approximately 1 million meals sold in 2025.
“Head to The Boathouse for the best waterfront dining experience – from ultra-fresh fish and premium raw bar to steaks, chops, pasta and other options,” Restaurant tell potential customers. “Looking for something more casual? This restaurant also offers sandwiches, burgers, lobster rolls and delicious desserts.”
According to Florida resident Kevin Duncan’s mother, he was eating dinner at The Boathouse on the evening of June 8, 2025, when things took a horrific turn. complainThe lawsuit was initially filed in Orange County, Florida, Circuit Court on October 23 and transferred to the federal court in Orlando on December 31.
“While eating the steak entree… [Duncan] He began choking on a piece of steak and his airway became blocked, the complaint states. Family and friends tried the Heimlich maneuver and other measures to clear the blockage.
However, the complaint states, The Boathouse employees “failed to immediately call 911; instead, staff initially contacted security, causing a delay in the call for emergency medical services.”
The indictment does not specify the length of the delay, but claims that “more than two minutes elapsed,” causing Duncan to suffer “severe hypoxia and cardiopulmonary arrest.” When Duncan was eventually taken to the hospital, he was “put on a ventilator” and died the next day, the lawsuit states.
one accompanying archive The boathouse said “owe [Duncan] Duty of Reasonable Care in a Restaurant,” and in Florida, “A restaurant’s duty of reasonable care includes seeking emergency medical assistance when a customer is clearly in medical distress. ”
It also claims that “at least one employee advised against calling 911 during the incident,” that The Boathouse did not have a defibrillator on site and that management deleted surveillance video showing Duncan choking on food.
“Kevin loved the outdoors and had a passion for anything with a motor,” he said. obituaries read. “If it is[d] Whether he’s exploring trails side-by-side, cruising the water in a boat, or casting a line on a quiet fishing trip, he’s right at home. Mountains, woods, and lakes all brought him peace. “
The statement said he especially “treasured time with family and friends, where laughter, stories and adventures happened naturally” and that he was “a hard-working man with an unparalleled work ethic and a strong sense of pride in his family’s air conditioning business.”
“Working with the people he loved meant everything to him,” according to his obituary.
Lawyers for the boathouse, for their part, argue in a lawsuit Motion to Dismiss December 31 The complaint filed should be dismissed due to two procedural flaws: a failure to “identify all potential beneficiaries of financial recovery” and a failure to separately list “survivor-specific losses and estate losses.”
Reah Duncan’s lawsuit lists four causes of action: negligence, wrongful death, negligent training and supervision and negligent operating practices.
She is seeking a jury trial and is seeking damages for loss of support and services, loss of income, loss of companionship and protection, medical and funeral expenses, as well as legal fees and pre-judgment and post-judgment interest.
one GoFundMe campaign As of Monday afternoon, the charity established days after Duncan’s death to raise the children had raised $19,045 of its $20,000 goal.
