A woman has spoken out about the frightening symptoms she experienced shortly after riding X2, a Six Flags Magic Mountain rollercoaster now linked to two deaths and several serious injuries.

What happened to Naomi Greer-Wilkinson

Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, from Los Angeles, collapsed shortly after exiting the ride and was rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered bleeding in her brain. Her father, Joshua Wilkinson, told CNN that the jarring motion of the ride had caused damage that led to the bleeding. Her condition was serious enough that doctors performed emergency surgery and placed her in an induced coma, where she has now remained for more than a month.

What the ride involves

X2, which opened in 2001, is known for its intensity, reaching speeds of 76mph with a 200ft drop, seats that rotate 360 degrees independently, and a series of half-loop "raven turns" that shift into sheer drops mid-motion. Six Flags itself has marketed the ride as a rite of passage for thrill-seekers.

A second recent case

Just six days before Naomi's hospitalisation, 40-year-old Pamela Guillen rode X2 while celebrating her daughter's 16th birthday. She reportedly struck her head repeatedly against the ride's headrest during the sequence of jolts and rotations, and needed help exiting the ride before beginning to vomit. She was taken to the same hospital that would later treat Naomi, where she was also found to have suffered a brain haemorrhage and underwent emergency surgery.

Doctors who treated both women stated in an email shared with CNN that, in their professional opinion, the injuries were consistent with a traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event experienced on the ride.

Expert concerns

Lyndia Wu, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of British Columbia who studies the effects of rollercoasters on the brain, said the overall risk of traumatic brain injury from rollercoasters is generally low, but acknowledged that higher-intensity rides like X2 warrant further investigation. She said she doesn't believe head injury should be considered an expected risk of riding a rollercoaster, and that rides can be properly designed to prevent this kind of harm.

A history of serious incidents

The ride has been linked to previous serious cases, including the death of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley in 2022, who collapsed shortly after exiting the ride and later died from severe brain trauma. His family sued Six Flags over the incident, with the case settled in 2026 on undisclosed terms. Attorney Ari Friedman, who represented the Hawley family, said X2 has been linked to a pattern of injuries over the years, including whiplash and head and leg injuries, tied to the ride's sudden jolts and shuddering.

X2 has remained closed since 12 July, with Six Flags yet to publicly explain the reason.