Man Who Survived Cancer and Fire Dies After Falling From Six Flags Roller Coaster

Hassan Kariem, 42, died Monday after falling from the 200-foot-tall Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to reports. His sister, Andrea Clark, told the New York Post that her brother had been in remission from cancer since 2015 and had survived a car fire just weeks before his death.

"He's an amazing person," Clark said. "The coolest part about me was him." She described her brother as "my hero," calling his sudden death "unfair" and expressing disbelief that someone who had overcome so much could be gone.

Clark also recalled her brother's devotion to his loved ones, stating he worked hard to provide for his family and helped raise his fiancée's daughter. "He could do anything," she said.

Witnesses described a harrowing scene as 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." The Goliath hypercoaster reaches speeds of up to 70 mph and features a 170-foot initial drop, a second 175-foot drop, and a 540-degree spiral, according to the park's website.

Atlanta Public Schools confirmed Tuesday that Kariem worked for the district as an IT manager and extended its condolences to his family. Six Flags stated it is cooperating with authorities investigating the incident and has temporarily closed similar roller coasters at other parks across the country as a precaution.

The grieving sister also condemned the circulation of images showing her brother's final moments, urging people to stop sharing them. "That's just evil," Clark told the Post. "It's tragic, and I feel like we've gone too far as a society."

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of Kariem's fall from the ride.