Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, suffered a catastrophic brain injury after riding the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California.
Closed since July 12, the X2 roller coaster sends riders plunging 200 feet at speeds of up to 76 mph, through multiple half-loops while their seats spin 360 degrees around the track.
Naomi’s dad, Joshua Wilkinson, told CNN that the horrifying incident “had damaged part” of his daughter’s brain, and it began “to bleed.” She was rushed to the hospital and had to undergo emergency surgery before being placed in an induced coma.
The 25-year-old has now been on a ventilator for two months after riding the roller coaster.
“I do remember one of the surgeons storming through the ER and yelling: ‘How many is it this month? They’ve got to shut that ride down!’ He was furious,” her mother, Artemis Greer, said.
“Naomi should have never, ever in a million years, even had the option to get on that ride. It’s absolutely insane,” she added.
However, Naomi’s case is not the first serious medical emergency associated with the ride.
X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Forty-year-old Pamela Guillen, who was treated at the same hospital as Naomi, hit her head multiple times against the headrest during the ride and subsequently began vomiting, according to VT. She was later confirmed to have suffered a brain hemorrhage and, like Naomi, had to undergo emergency surgery.
The medical professionals responsible for treating both women issued a statement that they shared with CNN.
“In our professional opinion, the severe brain injuries requiring emergent neurosurgical attention were the result of a traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event experienced while on the X2 ride,” the email read.
Six Flags has not publicly commented on the incidents but has previously defended X2 in court.
The company argued that a warning sign tells riders that “there are inherent risks in the participation in or on any amusement ride or attraction.”
Its attorneys also said the ride is regularly tested and that the physical forces riders experience are not strong enough to cause a traumatic brain injury to a “normal” rider who uses the attraction “as instructed.”
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