'Was screaming, hitting him': 5-year-old Florida boy suffers cardiac arrest on Disney rollercoaster ride

What began as a thrilling day at Disney quickly spiraled into a nightmare for one family. Five-year-old Ernesto Tagle found himself in a life-or-death situation during a ride on the Guardians of the Galaxy : Cosmic Rewind, a popular enclosed rollercoaster that propels riders at speeds of up to 60 mph.

The joyride took a terrifying turn just 20 seconds after the ride commenced when Ernesto suddenly stopped breathing. His mother, Christine Tagle, was seated directly behind him and vividly recalls the moment her heart sank. “I was screaming, hitting him, and saying something’s wrong,” Christine told Fox 35 recounting the harrowing experience.

Once the nearly three-minute ride came to an end, the little boy's mother performed CPR while others rushed to assist. A passing couple—a nurse and an EMT—immediately stepped in to help. A Disney employee swiftly brought an automated external defibrillator (AED), which was used to restart Ernesto’s heart before he was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Following extensive examinations, doctors diagnosed Ernesto with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia ( CPVT ), a rare heart rhythm disorder that can flare up during periods of intense excitement or physical activity.

Ernesto's father later shared on Instagram that his son was recovering well. Doctors had placed a device in Ernesto's chest designed to treat life-threatening heart arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest . “I’m happy to say that Ernesto is doing well after surgery with no signs of brain or heart damage,” he wrote, including photos of the brave young boy in his hospital bed. “Even better, this warrior is already home and already asking to ride his motorcycle.”