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Man Survives Niagara Falls Plunge

Third ever to go over unassisted and live to tell tale

By the Associated Press

Posted May 21, 2012 3:03 PM CDT

(AP) – Authorities say a man plunged at least 180 feet over Niagara Falls and survived—only the third person known to have gone over without a safety device (ie, a barrel) and lived. Niagara Parks Police say witnesses reported seeing the man climb over a railing at 10:20 this morning some distance above Horseshoe Falls "and deliberately jump." He surfaced near an observation platform on the Niagara River.

The man, believed to be in his early 40s, was rescued about two hours later and taken to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Police did not identify him. The last person to go over the Falls and survive was a 30-year-old Canadian man in March 2009. In October 2003, Kirk Jones of Michigan survived.

Niagara Falls in winter during the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay December 20, 2009 at in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Niagara Falls in winter during the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay December 20, 2009 at in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.   (Getty Images)
Niagara Falls on December 20, 2009 at in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Niagara Falls on December 20, 2009 at in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.   (Getty Images)
The Maid of the Mist navigates the turbulent waters of the lower Niagara River at the base of Horseshoe Falls, Friday, Sept. 28, 2007.
The Maid of the Mist navigates the turbulent waters of the lower Niagara River at the base of Horseshoe Falls, Friday, Sept. 28, 2007.   (AP Photo/Don Heupel)
In this Oct. 22, 2003 file photo, the Maid of the Mist tour boat cruises to the base of the Horseshoe Falls under a rainbow in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
In this Oct. 22, 2003 file photo, the Maid of the Mist tour boat cruises to the base of the Horseshoe Falls under a rainbow in Niagara Falls, Ontario.   (AP Photo/David Duprey, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
slammer
May 22, 2012 8:00 AM CDT
good for him hope he gets book and movie deal!
save-the-whales
May 22, 2012 4:53 AM CDT
The guy will be branded a hero and he will most likely make a zillion dollars on his movie rights and go in the guiness book
Winston_Smith
May 21, 2012 11:57 PM CDT
Assuming this man makes it, he will be the fourth, not the third. The first was a seven year-old boy named Roger Woodward, who went over the falls in 1960 wearing a life jacket after his boat capsized.

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