One family was on vacation on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls when their 10-year-old son fell over the railing into a gorge 100 Feet below. On Sunday, the boy's mother was trying to take the perfect picture of her son at the Horseshoe Falls. The boy was sitting on the railing when he lost his balance and toppled over backward. He struck his head and suffered an injury to it which caused alarm.

Boy's condition

Police officials were called around 4:34 p.m. and several first responders showed up. They included members of the fire department, police river team, and the emergency medical service.

After the boy was stabilized, he was transported by helicopter to the nearest hospital. Doctors at the McMaster Children's hospital in Hamilton, Ontario first determined that the boy's injuries were life-threatening. His condition was later changed to serious but stable. Even so, the incident is being investigated.

Deaths on Niagara Falls

The unnamed boy was lucky that he was not killed because others have died from accidents and suicide at Niagara Falls. According to records, about 5,000 people have died going over Niagara Falls either in accidents or by their daring attempts to cross the water. Officials report that about 20 to 40 people deliberately commit suicide by jumping into Niagara Falls every year.

There are other children who have gone over the falls. In 1960, a 7-year-old boy fell, but he was wearing a life vest. The crew of “Maid of the Mist” tour boat happened to be going by at the time and rescued him. Even though he survived, the boy says he doesn’t remember much about the accident. Others were not so lucky. In 2011, a Japanese exchange student died after she crawled over the railing and fell while climbing a pillar to get a better view.

It was heartbreaking news on August 29, 1981, when Dunia Sayegh, a 28-year-old resident of Toronto, dropped her two-month-old son over the railing and into the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. The little boy's body was never found. The mother was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. She convinced the courts that it was an accident because she was feeling dizzy at the time.

The judge determined that the young mother had suffered enough because of the loss of her baby. Therefore, the charge against her was dropped

There is a long list of people who died because of carelessness and those who died because of the stunts they tried to perform but failed. The names of those who committed suicide are also on the list.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED