Crews search Niagara Falls for missing woman

A young woman believed to be a visiting student from Japan is still missing and presumed dead after she was swept over Niagara Falls Sunday night. Austin Delaney reports.

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A woman is thought to have drowned after being swept into Niagara Falls when she fell over a railing, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011.

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ctvtoronto.ca

Date: Mon. Aug. 15 2011 8:59 PM ET

Divers searched the water below Niagara Falls on Monday, searching for an exchange student from Japan who fell over a railing and into the deadly waters a day before.

Niagara Parks Police said the incident happened at about 8:30 p.m. when two female international students were taking photos on the Canadian side of the falls.

Trouble arose when one of the women, a 19-year-old from Japan, climbed onto the concrete ledge next to Horseshoe Falls to pose for a picture.

Police said the woman was sitting with her legs straddling the barrier. When she attempted to stand up again, she lost her footing and fell into the water below.

Kari Wilson, a visitor from Vancouver, told reporters, "I wish I could have done something." She wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke.

"She had one leg on either side straddling this post, and just very casual. She was just having a conversation with her friend," said Wilson, standing at the site near the falls where the woman fell.

The victim had been sitting casually on a stone part of the fencing and chatting with her friend, she said. "Her purse was sitting right behind her and I thought, 'Well, that's a stupid place to keep your purse,'" Wilson said.

Minutes later, the woman plunged into the Niagara River, about 24 metres upstream from the top of the falls.

The current quickly swept her over the 54-metre-high falls.

Emergency crews, including a provincial police helicopter, spent most of Monday searching for the woman with no success. Police told CTV Toronto that it could be weeks before a body is found.

The Japanese consulate in Toronto has been asked to contact the victim's family in Japan.

Niagara Parks Police Chief Douglas Kane said the woman's fall is a sober reminder that risking one's life for a photograph isn't worth it.

"If you're a young adult and you choose to climb over a restraining barrier, unfortunately there's consequences…in this case they were tragic," he said.

In his 35 years on the job, however, Kane said this is the first time he recalls someone falling.

Police searching for the woman's body Monday found human remains in the swirling waters below the falls, but they turned out to be remains of an unidentified male.

CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney said that security images captured at the scene show that the woman was using an umbrella.

"A gust of wind may have played a role," he said.

The incident comes a day after a 27-year-old man survived a fall into the Niagara Gorge, just north of the Rainbow Bridge.

The man fell into the Gorge after trying to get a better view of Niagara Falls with his friends. He suffered a head injury and a serious leg fracture.

Comments are now closed for this story

Kathy
said

@Ronald,They aren't higher because in the winter the mist freezes and you can't see over the ice wall it creates.Like most people have mentioned, it's common sense, DO NOT CLIMB THE, "DO NOT CLIMB" BARRIER :P

Norm and Maryann
said

We visit Niagara Falls several times a year, and can't believe the risks that people will take.Two weeks ago we congregated at the falls for fireworks and marvelled at the number of people who ignored the warning signs and simply sat on the fence rail to watch the fireworks.Our now eleven year old son once asked if he could climb only the rock portion of the fence to get a better view! Both of us said "NO WAY!". We explained that despite appearing relatively safe, having an accident could easily be DEATH. Emphatically, we've drilled it in his head every time we see risks that it's human nature to think bad things can't happen to you. It's applicable in every day life just the same.We think he's getting it, and we're hoping he realizes danger before he gets into it.Every parent should do this, and accidents like this would be less common.By the way, notice the risk present in the photo here? No way would we let our child climb like that!

...
said

omggg !! Whyyyy ??? I learnt the news this afternoon when I was going to see you !! I still cant believe it. I already miss your smile, your kindness and our funny game of last friday.RIP :'(

Ronald Smith
said

From Bournemoth, England. If these tragic things have happened before, why isn't the fence higher. Clearly wrong. This isn't an excuse but it seems you can just sit on the fence, as this unfortunate woman was. The Canadian authorities tell us that they are telling people all day long not to do it, so put another 3 feet on the fence.

Nick
said

Having a fence up in places like this actually give a false sense of security in my opinion.Its takes away our natural ability to sense danger and our limits. There are many natural formations in the world where there are high risks but we choose to avoid them. For example, Pulpits Rock in Norway, attracts about 130,000 tourists, both adults and kids, per year from all over the world to it. Its a rock peering out 604m over a fjord, no safety net, fence or anything. Yet there has never been accidents only a handful of suicides.

Carolyn
said

I have also been going to Niagara for years and see this a lot. People climbing and sitting where they aren't supposed to. We also saw the same thing at the Grand Canyon when we were there. Seemingly intelligent people climbing a barricade that said "don't climb". Lol how much plainer can it be.

Sam C
said

How tragic. And, it's not just kids and teens, but young and even older adults who think that nothing will happen to them. Whether they are "just getting a quick picture" or performing some other risky task, they are too often proven wrong.

Dave in Ottawa
said

So we need to make the falls safe for the general public. First, let's divert and drain all the water. Then cut the cliffs back about 3 miles in all directions so they become a gentle slope, say no more than a 5 degree grade. Add soil and grass seed and you will have a nice open park. Add some trees, soccer goals, and a play structure, round the clock security guards, and voila, safe. Much better.

Very sad
said

I read several comments and some people are feeling very offended by insensitive references to the intelligence of the young victim. The reality is that what happened to her is the result of her choice. It's sad but it's better to be clear on that because other people will do the same thinking that today's tragedy is someone's else fault. This girl was probably academically intelligent ...she took the risk and unfortunately she had payed a very high price for it.

pappy :-)
said

I am very sorry for the family and friends of this young lady, however, as many people have pointed out, it is just plain lack of common sense that caused the tragedy.

If they think putting up more fencing would avert such things, then, in reality, all overpasses, bridges, sidewalks, etc. should be fenced in to stop the possibility of someone falling over the edge, or wandering into the street.

Just picture every street having the sidewalk fenced so you couldn't wander into traffic, or every bridge fenced so you couldn't fall over the edge.
If that isn't enough, perhaps sidewalks that cross a street should have a gate that closes when the traffic light turns orange.
What if you got caught outside the gate before you made it to the other side?
Maybe this could be a great source of revenue for cash-strapped cities�."fines for getting caught outside the gate".
What if you wanted to leave the sidewalk to get into your car? For that matter, how could you get from your car (which you may have just parked) to the fenced-in sidewalk?
Maybe it should be invisible electric fencing.
Not only streets and bridges, but all lakes should be fenced in so people cannot accidentally get into the water and drown.

This is just getting wayyyy too complicated.

Perhaps at birth we could receive in implanted gate-monitor that would automatically keep these gates open until we pass through them.
Better still, an implant that won't allow us to do stupid things.
All of these suggestions seem quite plausible, and as a matter of fact they certainly reduce the need to use our brains.

This certainly needs more thought, but perhaps our brains were not taught to think so much��.

Let's get real here.

Peter
said

First of all I would like to give my condolences the the girl's family and friends. The public does not need more government rules and restrictions to protect irresponsible individuals. If the government continues to come up with more regulations concerning safety, we might as well live in a protective bubble. If you made a mistake, it's your problem and don't expect the rest of us to suffer because of your lack of common sense.

Dee
said

First off, my heart goes out to the family and also to the friend who witnessed this. What a horrible and senseless tragedy.

I live in the Niagara area and have been to the Falls hundreds of times.

I don't believe that anyone except the person who climbs onto the rail is responsible. We don't need plexiglass, higher rails, barbed wire fence. We need COMMON SENSE, people.

I love how some people are blaming the Niagara Parks and the government. How about we all use our noggin once in a while instead of placing the blame elsewhere?

We are ultimately responsible for our own actions.

Clara
said

My heart goes out to her family and friends. It's just awful..

Pat in Mississauga
said

My sympathies to the family and friends of this young woman. This was a tragic accident that was completely avoidable. Please learn from it.

On another note, I am really surprised at the number of people missing the sarcasm of some of the posters. No, they are not demanding fences, barriers etc. They are being sarcastic.

Benjamin
said

Kids think its 'cute' to flaunt the law or ignore conventional wisdom. They lack understanding. Like speeding and drinking/taking drugs can often lead to violent death yet they still do it thinking they somehow they are different and will escape the consequences....life has harsh consequences depending on how you live it. Act wisely.

curtis sullivan regina saskatchewan
said

the accident at niagara falls i have been to niagara falls 2 times in 1995 and the small barrier wall is to short and small there should be at least six foot fences near the viewing areas it is far to dangerious the way it is i am surprised there have not been more accidents happen there

Tim
said

Yes Mohammed, I blame her entirely. I'm in my 20's but even I understand the basic concepts of gravity. If you climb up onto a barrier that's designed to keep you from falling off a cliff, and you fall off a cliff, that isn't a tragedy, that's natural selection. What's next? People aren't responsible for their own stupid decisions until they're 40? Mid 20's is plenty old enough to understand consequences.

Heather
said

What a sad tragic yet totally avoidable event. I have lived near the Falls for most of my life. I have a very healthy respect for the power of the Falls and I too have been amazed at the lack of respect for this powerful force of nature. I extend my sympathies to this young woman's family and friends. I pray that this is a learning experience for others visiting this wonder of nature.

Beth
said

What a senseless end of a life. I just took my kids to the Falls for the first time this summer (ages 7 & 11) because of my paranoia I was still holding their shirts by the collar. I think the barrier should be raised but I doubt it would make any difference, people need to think before they do such things.

Les Banks
said

Common sense is not very common. Concrete barriers and metal railings in place with signage warning of the danger and telling people not to climb, yet there will always be somebody that ignores safety precautions no matter what devices are in place. It is unfortunate but you can not protect someone that wantonly ignores safety features that are there to protect them. A higher fence just means they will climb higher.

Mohammed in Vancouver
said

Someone's child died.Would the usual litany of indifference, malice and attack from my fellow lovely Canadians kindly SHUT IT. This poor child was in her 20s, a young, young person who was just having a fun time with her friends and she plunges to her death, dying and forever traumatizing her friends and her family and some of you have the nerve to come on here and make asinine statements blaming and attacking her? I feel devastated for this for child and all her loved ones. This is a terrible tragedy.

Joe Spumolio
said

My condolences to the family of this young woman for their loss. I have visited the Falls hundreds of times (grew up there) and they can be quite mesmerizing. It's very easy to lose all perspective on your surroundings after watching that rushing water for a few minutes. To all the people posting nasty and rude comments about this young persons intelligence and your theories of natural selection. Hiding behind a keyboard using a fake name does not entitle you to be nasty, vicious and rude. Think how you would feel if this was you daughter. You don't know anything about her or her upbringing or her intelligence. I know it's really hard for some of the regulars here but try to not be so nasty and rude. A young woman is dead and a family is grieving. I'm sure you wouldn't be so brazen with your remarks if you had to look her father in his eye and spew your awful venom face to face. Class is something that's hard to teach but you can fake it if you just don't say anything.

Sree
said

I was there when the inciddent happened and it is such a tragic. I saw the inccident and i was very very shocked.

Mark Brampton
said

People like this unfortunately will wind up doing something else to cause their own demise if we put up a bigger fence and more barriers. We should just be glad her recklessness didn't cause the demise of anyone but herself. It is quite sad all the same

Annie
said

My sympathies to this young lady's family. To those professing the government needs to act rapidly to prevent future death or that Niagara Falls is becoming more and more dangerous, please, is that really how you feel? 12 Million people visit the Falls every year and manage to take beautiful photographs without risking their lives. I am sorry that this young lady lost her life but climbing a clearly marked wall and proceeding to straddle the railing was dangerous. Respecting the barriers provided is a pretty simple thing to do and alleviates all risk of death.

Gorg
said

Indeed a tragedy! The family left behind is reeling with indescribable stress and grief. Our condolences.

Momma J
said

I go to NF a lot, it makes me cringe when I see people sitting on top of the railing getting a picture taken, even worse when I see parents putting kids on the railing. I'm sorry to the family for their loss.

George The Fifth
said

To Tom91The Falls are not BECOMING more dangerous!The Falls are just the way they always were; however the society as a whole is losing intelligence, common sense, accountability... grip!While I feel very sorry for the family losing their child, Nature has a simple rule of selection and is at work all the time.NOTICE TO ALL FAMILIES: teach your (the) children the basics of common sense, accountability, respect, but most of all moral values!!!

Jeff in Ontario
said

My family was visiting the falls earlier on the same day of the accident. The rock was quite slippery at the point where the person fell, since it was raining (not just from spray). What amazed me was that at a number of points along the rail people were sitting on it - or the concrete blocks between the railings. So despite the conditions and the obvious danger, some people insist on pushing the limits. Further, I would have to guess that the rate of people sitting on the railing is about one in five hundred or so. Therefore I am amazed that more people don't fall into the river.

Alan
said

This is one of those situations where the question is "how far do they have to go to protect people from themselves". Having been to the Falls so many, many times I am still amazed at how people people put themselves in risky situations along that wall. When we do have a situation such as this it becomes a tragic accident and all of us feel very badly for the family. It is just sad that it should not take fences to have avoided this. People just need to be careful and use common sense.

Wisdom & common sense?
said

Common sense and wisdom tells us to be cautious. Sadly too many people lack common sense and exhibit poor judgment.

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

Yes, I'm in favor of the idiotic, overreactive idea of putting up a giant electrified wire fence, topped with barbed wire. Even though millions of people have visited Niagara Falls over the past 100 years, and the "accident" rate is incredibly minimal, and of no genuine material concern, given that, honestly (with all due respect to this girl's family) it requires reckless self-negligence to fall over the long-existing barrier, if we can save "just one life" it will be worth. To hell with the safe and spectacular view, and everybody else. After all, people can't be expected to act with basic self-responsibility, and avoid the obvious danger (made clear by neighboring signage, if your common sense is in short supply).

Dave
said

Common Sense is something that we have lost in this society. That is why we have so many government rules, to protect those that cannot fathom what common sense is.

Redfern
said

This is NOT the government's fault. We do not need more barriers. This woman was an adult, and we can assume that she could read signs that say "Don't climb on the wall." We do need a society that teaches people to take responsibility for themselves--and that includes reading and following instructions on signs, wearing seatbelts, and not climbing walls that are clearly marked "no climbing." Why do the rest of us have to suffer because these people choose to do stupid things? My condolences to the family, but let's be real here--this was not an accident, it was a choice.

Lola (Toronto)
said

I have been visiting Niagara falls at least twice a year for the last 27 years and not once have I ever thought that it would be safe to straddle the fence. It's very sad, and my heart goes out to her family and friends. However, when you take stupid risks like this for stupid reasons.... you can't be all that surprised when something tragic happens.

tom91
said

I want an inquiry! The government has to do something to prevent this! Niagara falls are becoming more and more dangerous each year. They should put up a bigger fence and maybe some safety netting. How many more people have to die before the government takes action?

just askin'
said

First let me express my condolenses to the family and friends of this young lady.
But I have to ask:
Why do people insist on climbing a wall WITH a railing on it? Not just at Niagara, but even at the Zoo etc....is it not obvious that there might be danger on the other side? Especially when the rock wall is wet it can be assumed that the rock will be slippery.

If you have to climb on top of a wall WITH a railing on it for a better picture you really need to spend a minute reading the manual that came with your camera. There is most likely a Zoom feature on your camera.
I can't believe the number of people I see every day trying to get up on this very same rock wall, just for a PICTURE!

Does the Niagara Parks Commission have to put up plexiglass walls to ensure your safety? Then what will you do to get your pictures?

BuzzerKiller
said

Sorry, but I cannot be sympathetic to those who want to do stupid things with their lives. Everyone seems to think they're immortal until they get themselves killed.

Richard
said

Now watch, some "well-meaning" nanny-state android will suggest a NEW fence before the barrier, ruining the ability of people to view, but making it safe for fools.

Kel
said

Oh, I hope she's just found unconscious down there. Very sad.

Sue
said

What a terrible tragedy!..However you should never sit, or straddle the railing around the Falls. It is clearly marked. Our sympathies to the young lady's family and her friend.

Steve
said

This is a terrible tragedy for the young woman and her family. Another accident that perhaps could be prevented in the future so that other families do not have to go through this suffering. Every year there are accidents like this at Niagra and they are true accidents. Maybe the Parks Commission should build higher fences, or even a secondary "catch" fence a little lower down the slope. Because there are so many accidents it would definitely save lives. It would not stop those who deliberately want to go into the gorge but it would save the many more who are accidently falling in.

william
said

Sad but avoidable. Why do people not understand the dangers of such places.......my deepest regards to her family and the young girl who was with her and is traumatized for life now!

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