Who has survived going over Niagara Falls?

Police Chief Douglas Kane said they received a 911 call at 2.11 p.m. local time after a visitor observed a male climb over the retaining wall south of the Horseshoe Falls and entered the rapids above the brink.

According to Kane, the male is believed to be in his late thirties and visitors observed the male fall down the waterfall and then travel down the river below in the area of the Ontario Power Generating building (OPG).

Members of the Niagara Parks Police and their High Angle River Team, and the Niagara Falls Fire Department were immediately dispatched in an attempt to rescue the male. When rescue workers arrived at the scene, the male refused any assistance and continued to swim further into the center of the Niagara River.

Rescue workers were later able to push the male back near the shore with the assistance of Niagara helicopters. After he was closer to the shore, Kane says, a Niagara Falls firefighter who was on a tether and wearing an ice commander dry suit, entered the water and took control of the male.

At least 17 people -- not including suicide attempts -- are known to have gone over the falls.