News Man survives 180-foot plunge over Niagara Falls

WV · 05-22-2012, 05:23 PM

Man survives 180-foot plunge over Niagara Falls

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A man survived a plunge of at least 180 feet over Niagara Falls in an apparent suicide attempt Monday — only the third person known to have lived after going over the falls without a safety device.

Niagara Parks Police said witnesses reported seeing the man climb over a railing 20 to 30 feet out over the Horseshoe Falls at 10:20 a.m. and "deliberately jump" into the Niagara River. Seriously injured, he surfaced in the lower Niagara River basin near the Journey Behind the Falls observation platform and managed to make it to shore on his own.

"He waded ashore," said Platoon Chief Dan Orescanin of the Niagara Falls, Ontario, Fire Department. "He must have gotten swept into an eddy, floated over there and was able to get out on his own.

"That's another stroke of luck," Orescanin said. "If he was in the main current, he would have been swept down river."

Orescanin said the man was conscious and talking at first but got quiet. He appeared to have chest injuries, including broken ribs and a collapsed lung, Orescanin said.

The man was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital with what police initially said were life-threatening injuries. Hospital spokeswoman Agnes Bongers said later that the man was critically injured but was expected to survive.

Authorities did not release the man's name.

Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the river, is the tallest of the three main falls, higher than the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

The man, believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was rescued about two hours later after fire department rescuers rappelled down the steep and rocky gorge and pulled him in a basket back up the cliff.

"It was very difficult. Between the shale and the boulders, and everything is wet and slick. It's slimy," Orescanin said.

About seven rescuers struggled to carry the basket up to a point where it could be lifted with ropes suspended from an aerial truck.

"We had to basically hand carry him back up, a foot at a time, up the rope," the chief said.

The rescue came weeks before daredevil Nik Wallenda plans to walk over Niagara Falls on a tightrope after convincing United States and Canadian officials to grant an exception to laws prohibiting stunting.

Although several daredevils have survived trips over the falls in barrels or other contraptions, beginning with Annie Edison Taylor in 1901, few have survived unprotected. In 1960, 7-year-old Roger Woodward was swept over the falls wearing a life jacket and survived.

Authorities don't believe Monday's plunge, on a warm and sunny Victoria Day holiday in Canada, was a stunt.

"Based on witness statements and surveillance video, it doesn't appear in any way, shape, or form that this was anything other than a suicide attempt," Niagara Parks Police Sgt. Chris Gallagher told WIVB in Buffalo.

More than 6 million cubic feet of water go over the brink of the falls every minute during peak daytime tourist hours, according to the Niagara Parks Commission.

The last person to go over the falls unaided and live was a 30-year-old Canadian man in March 2009. In October 2003, Kirk Jones, an out-of-work auto parts salesman from Michigan survived his plunge over the falls.

After getting the call Monday, rescuers didn't immediately know whether the man at the bottom of the gorge had gone over the brink or entered the water at the base.

"When we heard that he had gone over the falls we were shocked," Orescanin said

http://news.yahoo.com/video/news-267...-29371742.html

WV · 05-22-2012, 05:24 PM

Should they have bothered to try to save this dumbass? I mean he physically climbed over the railing, there's no accident here.

**Rain Man** · 05-22-2012, 05:52 PM

The guy is such a failure that he could go over Niagara Falls and not succeed in killing himself.

Fritz88 · 05-22-2012, 05:57 PM

Nevermind.

saphojunkie · 05-22-2012, 06:00 PM

Now this dude has to start living. Bloody hell, man. You ain't supposed to go yet, so you may as well start doing something about it.

****ing go help give vaccines or something in the Sudan.

**gblowfish** · 05-22-2012, 07:14 PM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.....

Splash!

**chefsos** · 05-22-2012, 09:15 PM

Instead of hauling the dumb**** out of the water, they should have tossed him a plugged-in toaster or something.

stevieray · 05-22-2012, 09:19 PM

talk about a 180....

Bump · 05-22-2012, 09:23 PM

WV · 05-22-2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chefsos

Instead of hauling the dumb**** out of the water, they should have tossed him a plugged-in toaster or something.

That was my line of thinking as well.

Jenson71 · 06-09-2022, 03:45 PM

Any of our members here ever been to the Canadian side of the Falls? Any strong recommendations?

Frazod · 06-09-2022, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Any of our members here ever been to the Canadian side of the Falls? Any strong recommendations?

Been there a couple of times. The Canadian side is much prettier. We stayed at the nearby hotel that has a casino. Had a nice time, as I remember.

MagicHef · 06-09-2022, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Any of our members here ever been to the Canadian side of the Falls? Any strong recommendations?

Yes. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a nice small town, but is not near the falls. Right by the falls is mostly tourist-trap stuff on the Canadian side, it’s a state park on the US side.

Jenson71 · 06-09-2022, 03:56 PM

Did you get on the boat that takes you right next to the Horsehoe and get drenched? I'm considering it, but it seems like a lot of money for a 20 minute water ride, and then you have to have backup shoes and stuff.

But I want to take a boat ride or cruise of some sort.

MagicHef · 06-09-2022, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Did you get on the boat that takes you right next to the Horsehoe and get drenched? I'm considering it, but it seems like a lot of money for a 20 minute water ride, and then you have to have backup shoes and stuff.

But I want to take a boat ride or cruise of some sort.

Yes, we did Maid of the Mist (the US one). It was very much worth it, imo.

05-22-2012, 05:23 PM
WV Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: In the Holler Casino cash: $10004950	Man survives 180-foot plunge over Niagara Falls Man survives 180-foot plunge over Niagara Falls NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A man survived a plunge of at least 180 feet over Niagara Falls in an apparent suicide attempt Monday — only the third person known to have lived after going over the falls without a safety device. Niagara Parks Police said witnesses reported seeing the man climb over a railing 20 to 30 feet out over the Horseshoe Falls at 10:20 a.m. and "deliberately jump" into the Niagara River. Seriously injured, he surfaced in the lower Niagara River basin near the Journey Behind the Falls observation platform and managed to make it to shore on his own. "He waded ashore," said Platoon Chief Dan Orescanin of the Niagara Falls, Ontario, Fire Department. "He must have gotten swept into an eddy, floated over there and was able to get out on his own. "That's another stroke of luck," Orescanin said. "If he was in the main current, he would have been swept down river." Orescanin said the man was conscious and talking at first but got quiet. He appeared to have chest injuries, including broken ribs and a collapsed lung, Orescanin said. The man was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital with what police initially said were life-threatening injuries. Hospital spokeswoman Agnes Bongers said later that the man was critically injured but was expected to survive. Authorities did not release the man's name. Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the river, is the tallest of the three main falls, higher than the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The man, believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was rescued about two hours later after fire department rescuers rappelled down the steep and rocky gorge and pulled him in a basket back up the cliff. "It was very difficult. Between the shale and the boulders, and everything is wet and slick. It's slimy," Orescanin said. About seven rescuers struggled to carry the basket up to a point where it could be lifted with ropes suspended from an aerial truck. "We had to basically hand carry him back up, a foot at a time, up the rope," the chief said. The rescue came weeks before daredevil Nik Wallenda plans to walk over Niagara Falls on a tightrope after convincing United States and Canadian officials to grant an exception to laws prohibiting stunting. Although several daredevils have survived trips over the falls in barrels or other contraptions, beginning with Annie Edison Taylor in 1901, few have survived unprotected. In 1960, 7-year-old Roger Woodward was swept over the falls wearing a life jacket and survived. Authorities don't believe Monday's plunge, on a warm and sunny Victoria Day holiday in Canada, was a stunt. "Based on witness statements and surveillance video, it doesn't appear in any way, shape, or form that this was anything other than a suicide attempt," Niagara Parks Police Sgt. Chris Gallagher told WIVB in Buffalo. More than 6 million cubic feet of water go over the brink of the falls every minute during peak daytime tourist hours, according to the Niagara Parks Commission. The last person to go over the falls unaided and live was a 30-year-old Canadian man in March 2009. In October 2003, Kirk Jones, an out-of-work auto parts salesman from Michigan survived his plunge over the falls. After getting the call Monday, rescuers didn't immediately know whether the man at the bottom of the gorge had gone over the brink or entered the water at the base. "When we heard that he had gone over the falls we were shocked," Orescanin said http://news.yahoo.com/video/news-267...-29371742.html
Posts: 4,983

05-22-2012, 05:24 PM	#2
WV Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: In the Holler Casino cash: $10004950	Should they have bothered to try to save this dumbass? I mean he physically climbed over the railing, there's no accident here.
Posts: 4,983	1 1

05-22-2012, 05:52 PM	#3
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3348491 VARSITY	The guy is such a failure that he could go over Niagara Falls and not succeed in killing himself. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,251	1 0

05-22-2012, 05:57 PM	#4
Fritz88 Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Casino cash: $8875943	Nevermind.
Posts: 12,706

05-22-2012, 06:00 PM	#5
saphojunkie MVP Join Date: Aug 2011 Casino cash: $4776250	Now this dude has to start living. Bloody hell, man. You ain't supposed to go yet, so you may as well start doing something about it. ****ing go help give vaccines or something in the Sudan.
Posts: 12,517	1 1

05-22-2012, 07:14 PM	#6
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17686178 VARSITY	AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah..... Splash!
Posts: 40,830

05-22-2012, 09:15 PM	#7
chefsos Fifty eight sixty two... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Felton, DE Casino cash: $8507676	Instead of hauling the dumb**** out of the water, they should have tossed him a plugged-in toaster or something.
Posts: 9,449

05-22-2012, 09:19 PM	#8
stevieray best in the biz Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Under Pressure Casino cash: $2615273	talk about a 180....
Posts: 71,171

05-22-2012, 09:23 PM	#9
Bump YOU take YOUR seat Join Date: Nov 2007 Casino cash: $2265105	__________________
Posts: 32,166	1 0

06-09-2022, 03:45 PM	#11
Jenson71 fides quaerens intellectum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Casino cash: $8330900	Any of our members here ever been to the Canadian side of the Falls? Any strong recommendations?
Posts: 15,986

06-09-2022, 03:56 PM	#14
Jenson71 fides quaerens intellectum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Casino cash: $8330900	Did you get on the boat that takes you right next to the Horsehoe and get drenched? I'm considering it, but it seems like a lot of money for a 20 minute water ride, and then you have to have backup shoes and stuff. But I want to take a boat ride or cruise of some sort.
Posts: 15,986