Hassan Kariem, 42, died Monday after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the fall.
Kariem's sister, Andrea Clark, 35, told the New York Post that her brother had been in remission from cancer since 2015. She said he also survived a car fire just weeks before his death. Clark described Kariem as "my hero" and "an amazing person." She said she could not understand how someone who had overcome so much could die in such an accident.
"He had other issues, but he's healthy, he was able-bodied. I don't understand it," Clark told the outlet. She recalled that Kariem worked hard to provide for his family and helped raise his fiancée's daughter, whom he had known since the child was 3 years old.
Clark condemned the online sharing of images showing Kariem's final moments. "That's just evil," she said. "It's tragic, and I feel like we've gone too far as a society."
A witness who was at the park told WXIA that Kariem appeared in a souvenir photo taken during the ride. The witness said Kariem fell and hit the car three different times.
The Goliath hypercoaster reaches speeds of up to 70 mph. According to the park's website, it features a 170-foot initial drop, a second 175-foot drop, and a 540-degree spiral.
Atlanta Public Schools confirmed Tuesday that Kariem worked for the district as an IT manager. The district extended its condolences to his family.
Six Flags said it is cooperating with authorities investigating the incident. The company temporarily closed similar roller coasters at other parks across the country as a precaution.