Man who died in Six Flags roller coaster horror was a cancer survivor who cheated death in appalling car fire just weeks earlier

The Georgia man who died after falling from a rollercoaster at Six Flags was a cancer survivor who was recently in a devastating car fire.

Hassan Kariem, 42, was a two-time lymphoma survivor who was also once hospitalized with COVID, family friends told WSB-TV.

Just about three weeks ago, his family also said he was in a fiery car accident with his 10-year-old step-daughter that totaled the vehicle – but the father and step-daughter were left unscathed, 11 Alive reports.

He had grown up visiting Six Flags Over Georgia every summer with his family, his cousins told Fox 5, and returned to the park on Monday to continue the tradition with his partner, her daughter and her niece. 

But Kariem's life tragically came to an end at around 4pm that day, when he was violently thrown from his seat on the Goliath rollercoaster in front of horrified passengers.

He then struck the ride three times before police found him unresponsive behind a haunted house attraction that had been set up for Halloween.

Four others were also rushed to the hospital in the aftermath. 

'We're absolutely devastated by this loss,' said family friend Elicia Day. 'Any loss of a family member or friend is tragic, but to lose him in this manner this way is beyond words can even express.

'I just really want a full investigation, and we want answers about how this happened.' 

Cobb County police have said it appears that Kariem was 'ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction.'

Authorities are now investigating exactly what went wrong on the ride, which has been a staple of the theme park since 2006.

But witnesses have claimed that the restraints on the rollercoaster, which reaches heights of over 200 feet, had been making a 'weird clicking' noise – prompting park staff to check the restraints 'multiple times' before the car Kariem was in took off.

Moments later, he was caught in horrific photos falling headfirst over other riders and off of the rollercoaster, as families and small children recoiled in horror.

'The man started levitating in the air sideways, come back [and hit the cart],' witness Logan Conner, who was on the rollercoaster with his fiancée, told WXIA.

'The cart went back up in the air, flipped, came down, [he] hit the cart, went back up in the air, came down, hit the cart again and then the ride stopped.

'As the last hit happened... we made direct eye contact with him,' Conner noted.

His fiancée was later seen crying as she tried to describe what they had witnessed in a video taken after the couple got off the ride, which was evacuated in the aftermath.

'The Goliath at Six Flags just launched a man out of his seat, three times on our car,' she said through tears. 

After Kariem was identified as the victim, Atlanta Public Schools said in a statement that he would be remembered as a beloved educator and technology professional in the district. 

'He was a cherished member of the Wesley International Academy and APS families whose presence and impact will be deeply missed by our students, staff, and all those whose lives he touched,' the school district said. 

'Our thoughts are with everyone mourning his loss during this difficult time.'

When he wasn't teaching, Day said Kariem kept busy with his 3D printing business because he loved technology.

Family members further described him to 11 Alive as a passionate educator who loved his city and was invested in bringing families together at extended family gatherings.

His greatest devotion, though, was reserved for his family and the young girl he raised on his own.

'He loved doing that, he loved kids,' cousin Geo Ashe told Fox 5. 'And he doesn't have any biological kids, but his stepdaughter is his daughter. She's been with him since she was two, three years old.' 

'He was the sunshine of our family,' Ashe continued. 'Our whole family is devastated by this because it just happened out [of] the blue.

'It happened how it happened, and you would never expect anything like that.'

Family members now want the community to remember the generosity, kindness and character they said defined Kariem's life as they asked for privacy.

'San was exceptionally intelligent, thoughtful and kind,' the family said in a statement, using a nickname for Kariem. 'He had a gentle spirit and a warmth that made people feel safe, seen and valued.

'Though he was a strong presence - a gentle giant in every sense - his strength was never intimidating. It was comforting,' the family said.

'He carried himself with humility, patience and compassion, giving generously to his family, students, colleagues, friends and community.

'His life holds meaning far beyond anything shared online,' the family noted. 'He will always share a place in our hearts, our family and the Atlanta community.'

It remains unclear what may have caused the tragedy.

But park officials said they have temporarily closed the Goliath, along with a number of other rides at Six Flags attractions across the nation 'out of an abundance of caution.'

Six Flags Magic Mountain in California had also previously announced it was demolishing its notorious X2 rollercoaster, following a series of lawsuits alleging it had caused severe injuries to riders.

The theme park operator had settled a wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who died after riding the coaster in 2022, and three other lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries were filed.

The ride had then been closed since the evening of July 12, after two women who rode the coaster less than a week apart needed to be rushed to the hospital.

One of them, 25-year-old Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, collapsed shortly after the ride ended and was found to have massive brain bleeding inside the skull that required emergency brain surgery.

She now remains in a vegetative state in the hospital, unable to speak or move and dependent on a ventilator.

Her family has filed a lawsuit against Six Flags on her behalf, with her attorneys saying that more than 100 people have claimed they suffered brain injuries from the rollercoaster over the past two years.

Another woman, 40-year-old Pamela Guillen, suffered severe brain hemorrhages after riding the X2 at Six Flags in Valencia, California.

Her daughter, Camille Marquez, told CNN: 'We got off the cart and we saw my mom. She looked lifeless. Not a thought behind her eyes, nothing.'

More lawsuits would be filed in the coming weeks, the lawyers then vowed.