Originally Posted By DVC_dad Yep yep, sad but true... <a href="http://tinyurl.com/k9s7d" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/k9s7d</a>
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Man dies after riding roller coaster at Six Flags Associated Press AUSTELL, Ga. - A 45-year-old Alabama man died of an apparent heart attack after losing consciousness at the end of the newest roller coaster ride at the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park. Michael Corry, of Birmingham, Ala., was alert while riding the Goliath roller coaster on Thursday, but he was unconscious by the ride's end, said Six Flags spokeswoman Christy Poore. By the time firefighters arrived, he wasn't breathing, said Cobb County Fire Lt. Dan Dupree. He said the man was pronounced dead at a hospital. Corry's autopsy showed he had a congenital heart problem, said Mike Gerhard, an investigator with the Cobb Medical Examiner's Office. He said the fatality will likely be ruled a natural death, but a decision won't be made until the results of routine toxicology tests are returned. The $20 million roller coaster was shut down for inspection by Six Flags and state safety officials. Two hours later, it was reopened after officials determined it was working properly, Poore said. Goliath soars 200 feet over the park, lasting just over three minutes and reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour. It opened this year with much fanfare, billed by the amusement park as "A Giant Among Coasters." On Monday, a 52-year-old Florida man died after riding the Gwazi roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla. A medical examiner later said Thomas M. Welch suffered from high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. A 12-year-old boy who died after riding Disney-MGM's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., last month was also found to have heart problems. An autopsy showed the boy had a congenital heart defect, the medical examiner said.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA what would be some examples of a congenital heart defect? Try this site: <a href="http://www.congenitalheartdefects.com/typesofCHD.html" target="_blank">http://www.congenitalheartdefe cts.com/typesofCHD.html</a> They list 40 different conditions that are considered to be a 'congenital heart defect' I have a mitral valve prolapse -- should I stay away from roller coasters like Goliath?
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I've been on Goliath here in California twice now and both times I felt light-headed, a little woozy with my heart pounding and slightly short of breath. Both times I was thinking "boy I hope I'm not going to have a heart attack". Needless to say, I'm not going to ride THAT coaster again (shouldn't have gone on it a second time, really). I'm a coaster hound but Goliath is just too much for me, I think I'll stick to some of the older less intense coasters, like Viper.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I rode Goliath at SixFlags Magic Mountain back in 2001 or so -- the year it opened. The first hill was frightening enough, but when we got to those tight helixes toward the end, I too thought I was going to pass out. I felt unsteady and woozy for the rest of the day. This was before I was taking meds for my high blood pressure, so I guess I'm lucky I didn't have a stroke or something. Even back then, I vowed to never go on an extreme coaster again. 'California Screamin' is about as extreme as I need, thankyouverymuch, but moreso 'Big Thunder' or 'Matterhorn' or 'Space Mountain.'
Originally Posted By EdisYoda Actually, from what I've heard, the SFOG Goliath is different from that at SFMM. It was built using SFOG's specific terrain. While there may be many similarities, it is indeed a much different ride.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb But I imagine both coasters have similar "extreme" qualities that might be phisically taxing.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <'California Screamin' is about as extreme as I need, thankyouverymuch, but moreso 'Big Thunder' or 'Matterhorn' or 'Space Mountain< ditto here !
Originally Posted By brotherdave Although both coaster's share the name "Goliath", they are two different rides. The SFMM version was built by Giavanola, while the SFOG version was built by Bolliger & Mabilliard. SFOG is more of an 'airtime' coaster, while SFMM's is a 'twister' style with tight helices.
