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IT was the theme park tragedy that rocked America.

The horrifying death of an Iraq war hero who was thrown from a 208ft rollercoaster at 50mph at the Darien Lake Theme Park and Resort in Buffalo, New York.

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Sgt James Thomas Hackemer, 29, died in July 2011 after riding the Ride of Steel coaster during a family trip.

He had already overcome huge adversity after losing both his legs in a roadside bomb attackin 2008.

That forced him to have to relearn how to eat, speak and write, the US Department of Veteran Affairs wrote.

But after a long and tough recovery, James was enjoying being able to spend time with his loved ones once again.

And part of that was enjoying days out with his two young daughters and teenage nephew, who had all gone with him to the park on the day of his death.

James' nephew Ashton Luffred, then 19, told news outlets his uncle said: "Im going to put my hands up when we go down."

But what unfolded would be a scene from a horror movie.

Eyewitnesses looked on as he fell around 150ft to his death.

The ride rules had required that riders have both legs, investigators said.

James had not been wearing his prosthetic legsat the time of the incident.

Luffred told The New York Post: "The last time I saw him was when he was flying out.

"He didnt have anything holding him down.

"By the time Id realized that he was pretty far out of the seat, he was too far for me to grab, and at that speed, even if I were able to catch his shirt, it wouldnt have done much."

Hackemer was at the front of the coaster when he fell to his death.

His family said no questions were asked about the disabled veteran's decision to ride by operators.

State labor authorities said in 2011 they were found to not have been properly trained to observe safety rules, Reuters reported.

The Labor Department said: "The Parks safety and operational requirements, which were visibly posted at the entrance to the Ride of Steel, were not followed by the ride operators.

"These rules require that riders have both legs because the safety devices restrain the legs, shins, and lap to hold the rider safely in the rides car."

James' family later sued Darien Lake Theme Park and Resortfor wrongful death.

A seven-figure settlement was reached in 2013, the Associated Press reported.

James' sister, Jody Hackemer, said: "He was determined to ride every roller coaster.

"That minute he was on that ride, he probably felt the happiest and most normal he's felt in three and a half years."

"He always said the wittiest things to make people laugh, and nine times out of 10 it was directed at himself," Jody added.

"He had a thirst for life and wanted to do as much as possible."

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Chilling last words of Iraq war hero, 29, before death plunge from 208ft rollercoaster in tragedy that... - The US Sun