Man goes over Niagara Falls and lives

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT (WIVB) - It has only happened a few times in recorded history. Wednesday night, a man is alive after going over Niagara Falls.

The man went over Niagara Falls, then spent 45 minutes in the frigid waters of the Niagara and lived.

Niagara Parks Police Sergeant Chris Gallagher said, "It would appear that he did this of his own accord. The witness did see him climb the railing of his own accord and enter into the water above."

Just after 2:00 p.m., Toronto resident Konstantin Shatalov watched as the man went into the rapids and then over the Canadian Horshoe Falls.

Shatalov said, "I thought I imagined it, I actually looked around. There were a bunch of people and nobody seemed to notice. So, I was thinking, 'did I see it, was it for real?' So it took me about ten seconds, I called 9-1-1, and then other people ran from the top and saw the guy floating toward it so other people did see it."

After going over, the man was swept about 300 yards downstream.

Sergeant Gallagher said, "We were able to get verbal communications with the man and see that he was still alive."

Shatalov said, "Yes, he was alive, completely naked. I guess the clothes was just ripped off."

In fact, at one point he may have tried to save himself.

Niagara Falls Fire Captain David Belme said, "I believe he was actaully sitting on a piece of debris, like you would do a pool noodle in a pool."

Earlier in the winter, he might've been swept under an ice shelf, but in March it's mostly open water.

Rescuers dispatched a sightseeing helicopter. That crew lowered a harness, but he wouldn't grab on.

Ruedi Hafen (Niagara Helicopters Limited) said, "He was swimming first when we got there. He was pretty perky still and he could've helped us getting the arm into the sling, but he was obstructive."

So the pilot used the choppers rotor blades to blow him closer to rescuers near the shore.

News 4's George Richert asked, "If this guy survives, do you think he might thank you for this someday?"

Hafen said, "That's a tough question, because he didn't help us at all."