A Georgia man who had battled cancer and recently survived what his sister described as a “crazy” car fire has died after falling from a Six Flags roller coaster. His death has left his family struggling to understand how he could overcome so many challenges, only to lose his life in a tragic amusement park accident.
Hassan Kariem, 42, died Monday after reportedly falling from the 200-foot-tall Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. His sister, Andrea Clark, 35, told the New York Post on Tuesday that Kariem had been in cancer remission since 2015 and had escaped a car fire only weeks before the fatal incident.
“He’s an amazing person,” Clark told the outlet through tears. “The coolest part about me was him.”
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, seen above, was identified by Cobb County police as the man who died following a reported fall from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. (Facebook/Hassan Jihad Kariem; Alamy)
Clark, who called her brother “my hero,” said his sudden death felt deeply unfair. She said she could not make sense of losing someone who had already survived so much.
“He had other issues, but he’s healthy, he was able-bodied. I don’t understand it,” she said.
She also remembered Kariem as a devoted family man who worked hard to support his loved ones. According to Clark, he helped raise his fiancée’s daughter and had been part of the girl’s life since she was 3 years old.
“He could do it all,” she said.
A man died Monday following a reported fall from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, pictured above, prompting additional safety precautions. (Alamy)
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The grieving family has also spoken out against the spread of disturbing images allegedly showing Kariem’s final moments. Clark pleaded with people to stop sharing the footage.
“That’s just evil,” Clark told the Post. “It’s tragic, and I feel like we’ve gone too far as a society.”
Witnesses described a terrifying scene after Kariem reportedly fell from the ride. One visitor told local station WXIA that the victim appeared in a souvenir photograph captured during the coaster’s run.
“He was in our pictures,” the witness said. “He fell and hit the car three different times.”
According to Six Flags’ website, the Goliath hypercoaster can reach speeds of 70 mph. The ride includes an initial 170-foot drop, a second drop of 175 feet and a 540-degree spiral.
Atlanta Public Schools confirmed Tuesday that Kariem worked as an IT manager for the district and expressed condolences to his family.
Six Flags said it was assisting authorities with the investigation. As a precaution, the company temporarily shut down similar roller coasters at several of its parks nationwide.
A fatal roller coaster incident at Six Flags Over Georgia is raising questions about ride safety and potential liability. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Authorities have not yet determined what caused Kariem to fall from the roller coaster.
