A Georgia man who had survived cancer and escaped what his sister called a “crazy” car fire just weeks earlier died after falling from a Six Flags roller coaster. His death has left his family struggling to understand how he could overcome so much, only to lose his life in a tragic amusement park accident.
Hassan Kariem, 42, died Monday after falling from the 200-foot-tall Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. His sister, Andrea Clark, 35, told the New York Post on Tuesday that Kariem had been in remission since 2015 and survived a car fire only a few weeks before his death.
“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,” described his sudden death as “unfair.” She said she could not comprehend how someone who had endured and overcome so much could be gone.
“He had other issues, but he’s healthy, he was able-bodied. I don’t understand it,” she said.
Clark also spoke about Kariem’s dedication to his family. She told the Post that he worked hard to support his loved ones and helped raise his fiancée’s daughter, whom he had known 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)
MORE ON THIS: Trump Draws Outrage Over AI Video Parody of Zoo Tiger Attack
The grieving sister also denounced the spread of disturbing images that reportedly show her brother’s final moments as he fell from the roller coaster. She urged people not to share 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 horrifying scene after Kariem reportedly fell from the ride. One parkgoer told local outlet WXIA that the victim appeared in a souvenir photo taken during the roller coaster’s run.
“He was in our pictures,” the witness said. “He fell and hit the car three different times.”
According to the park’s website, the Goliath hypercoaster reaches speeds of up to 70 mph. The ride includes a 170-foot initial drop, a second drop of 175 feet and a 540-degree spiral.
Atlanta Public Schools confirmed Tuesday that Kariem worked for the district as an IT manager and offered condolences to his family.
Six Flags said it was assisting authorities with the investigation. As a precaution, the amusement park chain also temporarily closed similar roller coasters at parks across the country.
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 ride.