A woman is dead after plunging into the Niagara Gorge with her 5-year-old son Monday in what officials believe was a deliberate act.
New York State Park officials received multiple calls at approximately 12:30 p.m. regarding a woman and child who had fallen into the gorge in the area near the Cave of the Winds entrance at Niagara Falls State Park. Together with Niagara Falls fire officials, police performed a daring rescue operation into the icy Niagara Gorge, locating both victims about 70 yards below the railing, WIVB reported.
The 5-year-old son survived the 90-foot fall. https://t.co/PsBs989l2O
— KTVU (@KTVU) February 17, 2023
“Our rescuers along with Niagara Falls fire were able to reach both of the victims pretty quickly. Although today’s nice out, it’s pretty icy down there. So it’s real tough terrain that our guys and girls were able to get through and get to them and provide that life-saving care and do everything they could,” New York State Parks Police Captain Chris Rola told the outlet. (RELATED: Woman Found Dead In Car Submerged On Edge Of Niagara Falls)
Though fire officials performed life-saving measures for the woman, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was recovered by the New York State police aviation unit and transported to a coroner’s office, Rola told reporters, according to a video provided by Buffalo News. Her young son was “stable enough” to be carried out of the gorge and transported via the Cave of the Winds elevator to a waiting ambulance, Rola continued. From there, the child was airlifted to Oishei Children’s Hospital with a head injury and remains in critical condition, WIVB reported.
Rola was unable to disclose the woman’s name, but it is known that she was not from the immediate area. Though the investigation is ongoing, Rola told Fox News 5, “we don’t believe it was an accident.”