A man died last week after being pulled into an MRI machine by a “large metallic chain” police said he was wearing around his neck – highlighting the importance of checking for any metallic objects before going near the powerful magnets used in the medical imaging machines.

The victim wore "a large metallic chain around his neck, causing him to be drawn into the machine," police said.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon at a medical building in Westbury, New York, according to the Nassau County Police Department.