Man dies in latest Niagara Falls stunt
Kirk Jones, who famously survived going over Niagara Falls in 2003, died in another attempt over the famous waterfall weeks ago.
Jones’ body was found last week in Lake Ontario by a fisherman.
New York State Park Police Det. Sgt. Brian Nisbet said it appeared Jones was in the Niagara Falls area April 19. On that day, crews responded to a report of a large “spinning ball” in the rapids.
Nisbet told Syracuse.com that the 10-foot ball went over the falls and was recovered, without a person in it, by a Maid of the Mist boat.
After an investigation, Nisbet said it’s believed Jones was attempting to go over the falls inside the ball. He fell out at some point, which resulted in his death. The incident was under investigation.
Jones, 40 in 2003, became the first person to survive a plunge into the falls without being inside a barrel or device.
On his first attempt, a witness said Jones went over the edge with his hands over his head before plunging into the water below. The same witness said he then saw Jones pull himself onto rocks down below. He floated across the U.S.-Canadian border on his back.
Before his initial jump, Jones spoke repeatedly about making a jump from the top, friends and family said.
Syracuse.com reported that Jones paid a $3,000 fine after pleading guilty to unlawfully performing a stunt for his first attempt.
At the time, Jones said he was trying to kill himself, Syracuse.com reported. However, he later said he was happy to be alive and asked “that no one ever try such a horrible stunt again.”