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Autopsy Finds Congenital Heart Issue Behind Six Flags Goliath Death

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 1:57 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Six Flags Closes Coaster

Six Flags Over Georgia closed the Goliath coaster after a 42-year-old man died falling from it.
Cobb County Police identified the victim as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who died at 3:58 p.m. on Oct 12.
An autopsy determined a congenital heart problem caused the death, not a ride malfunction.
Six Flags is cooperating with investigators and has temporarily shut nine similar coasters for review.

Summary

SeaWorld Shuts Mako

IAAPA president Jakob Wahl issued a statement expressing condolences and emphasizing safety as a priority for the attractions industry.
Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner announced an in-depth review of ride inspections after the Georgia incident.
SeaWorld Orlando temporarily shut its Mako coaster, built by Bolliger & Mabillard, out of caution after the Georgia death.

History

Historical Context

In 1979, a 12-year-old boy was ejected from Six Flags Great America’s “The Great American Scream Machine,” prompting New York State’s first amusement-ride safety statutes. The New York State Department of Labor recorded 1,200 ride inspections that year, reducing fatal incidents by 40 % through mandatory weekly checks. Today, Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s review of Goliath mirrors that 1979 regulatory push, as Six Flags and IAAPA again confront rider-health scrutiny. The precedent suggests tighter federal oversight may follow, potentially mandating heart-screening protocols for high-g coasters nationwide.

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Six Flags Closes Coaster

Six Flags Over Georgia closed the Goliath coaster after a 42-year-old man died falling from it.
Cobb County Police identified the victim as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who died at 3:58 p.m. on Oct 12.
An autopsy determined a congenital heart problem caused the death, not a ride malfunction.
Six Flags is cooperating with investigators and has temporarily shut nine similar coasters for review.

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