Reminds me of Kevin Costner’s narration in Dances with Wolves.

Source: Niagara Falls Review

If it was a suicide attempt, hopefully the man who went over the Horseshoe Falls on Wednesday in Niagara Falls will be able to get the help he needs, said Roger Woodward, the man who survived a plunge over the mighty cataract 49 years ago.

“If it is a suicide attempt, I think it is very tragic,” said Woodward, who now lives in Huntsville, Ala., and sells real estate.

“The very first thought that went through my mind is that I’m dealing with a family member who has cancer and we are hoping she can survive and live. Then when you see someone who might be at a point in their life where they see life isn’t worth living, obviously it’s an extreme contrast and you hope they can get help to resolve that problem.”

Woodward was only seven years old when he became the first person to go over the Horseshoe Falls and survive, wearing only a life jacket and a bathing suit, on Saturday, July 9, 1960.

The headline in the Monday edition of The Niagara Falls Review called it: Niagara Miracle: Boy Cheats Falls.

Woodward, and his 17-year-old sister Deanne, were out for a boat ride with a family friend, James Honeycutt.

The engine on their boat developed a problem and lost power about half a mile away from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls. The 12-foot aluminum boat overturned and the three of them ended up in the water.

There were only two life preservers in the boat. The children had them on.

Deanne was rescued by John R. Hayes, a truck driver and auxiliary policeman from Union, N. J., who climbed the guardrail and kept yelling at her to swim.

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