Man who died in Six Flags roller coaster fall survived two bouts of cancer and a car fire

A 42-year-old man who died after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia was revealed to have had overcome two bouts of cancer and survived a car fire.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta died on Oct. 12 after falling from a roller coaster at the amusement park in Austell, Georgia.

According to the Cobb County Police Department, preliminary information from witness and employee interviews indicated that Kariem was ejected from the ride, struck other riders, and fell beneath the attraction. 

In a report by 11Alive, a family friend described Kariem, an IT manager, as a fighter who remained positive despite the challenges he faced. His family told the outlet that he had survived two bouts of cancer, the latest in 2018.

The report also said that Kariem and his 10-year-old daughter also survived a car fire about three weeks before the roller coaster incident. The two escaped without injuries, but the vehicle was destroyed.

Following Kariem’s death, Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across six theme parks in the US and Canada as a precaution. The company said the closures were made “out of an abundance of caution,” ABC News reported.

Six Flags said it was cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation.