From Aaron Besecker at the Buffalo News:A man who jumped into the upper rapids on the Canadian side of the Niagara River and then fell over the Horseshoe Falls was rescued this afternoon after spending more than 40 minutes in frigid waters below the falls.
The man, who suffered a head injury and hypothermia, would not help emergency responders with his rescue but was saved when a firefighter using safety equipment swam out about 50 yards into the Niagara River, said officials from the Niagara Falls, Ont., police and fire departments.
The man, said to be in his late 30s, was either unable or unwilling to grab onto a pole extended out to him from two rescuers aboard a helicopter. The helicopter pilot then positioned the aircraft in a way that used the winds to push the man closer to the shoreline.
The man was taken by Niagara EMS to Greater Niagara General Hospital, officials said.
A tourist who saw the man hop a fence and jump into the water reported the incident by calling 911 at about 2:11 p.m., Niagara Falls Fire Chief Lee Smith said.
The river's temperature was just above freezing, and ice floes could be seen in the area, Smith said.
The Horseshoe Falls is 167 feet high and the pool of water beneath it is equally as deep. On average, about 1.5 million gallons of water flows over Niagara Falls every second.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was pushed in circles by the river currents over about an area of 100 yards, but was able to keep himself afloat before he was rescued.
"It's amazing that he survived that long," Smith said. "He was very close to not being able to keep himself afloat anymore."
The man had clothes on when he entered the water, but was naked when he was rescued.
Rescuers believe the force of the falls stripped him of his clothing.
The man, who suffered a head injury and hypothermia, would not help emergency responders with his rescue but was saved when a firefighter using safety equipment swam out about 50 yards into the Niagara River, said officials from the Niagara Falls, Ont., police and fire departments.
The man, said to be in his late 30s, was either unable or unwilling to grab onto a pole extended out to him from two rescuers aboard a helicopter. The helicopter pilot then positioned the aircraft in a way that used the winds to push the man closer to the shoreline.
The man was taken by Niagara EMS to Greater Niagara General Hospital, officials said.
A tourist who saw the man hop a fence and jump into the water reported the incident by calling 911 at about 2:11 p.m., Niagara Falls Fire Chief Lee Smith said.
The river's temperature was just above freezing, and ice floes could be seen in the area, Smith said.
The Horseshoe Falls is 167 feet high and the pool of water beneath it is equally as deep. On average, about 1.5 million gallons of water flows over Niagara Falls every second.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was pushed in circles by the river currents over about an area of 100 yards, but was able to keep himself afloat before he was rescued.
"It's amazing that he survived that long," Smith said. "He was very close to not being able to keep himself afloat anymore."
The man had clothes on when he entered the water, but was naked when he was rescued.
Rescuers believe the force of the falls stripped him of his clothing.
Photo: Associated Press
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