The tragic event at Niagara Falls sent shockwaves around the world as news spread of a mother’s deliberate act of jumping off a cliff with her son in tow.
An Illinois mother has died after jumping into the icy gorge of Niagara Falls with her child after they both fell down a 90-foot chasm.
The 34-year-old woman, who has not been identified, is believed to have jumped intentionally from Goat Island in Niagara State Park around 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 after scaling a guardrail, according to state police.
Her body was discovered near the Cave of the Winds complex, located on the Canadian side of the falls, which forms the US-Canada border.
The mother died and her body was airlifted from the bank, but the 5-year-old son was rescued and taken to Buffalo Children’s Hospital with head injuries. The young man underwent surgery and was in critical condition the next day.
Moments after the disaster, the youngster can be seen in photos obtained by DailyMail.com and appears to be being loaded into an ambulance.
He was brought to the truck for stabilization and shortly thereafter was lifted into a helicopter and transported to urgent care.
The mother, her husband, and her son were visiting from Illinois when the accident occurred. According to the police, the husband and other witnesses were questioned by the police.
Captain Chris Rola of the New York State Parks Police said, “We do not believe it was an accident, but the investigation is still ongoing.” A State Police spokesman said Thursday that they are investigating the incident as an attempted suicide.
Rescuers were able to descend quickly as both fell into a ravine near the Cave of the Winds lift. Niagara Falls firefighters were able to get the mother and son to the landing site by climbing the ice from the bottom of the ravine.
The youngster was lifted into an elevator, taken to the island’s parking lot, and then flown by helicopter to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
A dramatic video shows the baby being carried to a waiting helicopter.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and was evacuated from the ravine with her body.
During a press conference Monday afternoon, Rola said, “Niagara Falls is a difficult place to conduct a rescue.” They were able to carry [the groom] out and up the elevator to the ambulance that was waiting there because he was stable enough to do that.
He said, “Unfortunately, the girl did not survive. She was found by the New York State Police Air Unit and is being removed to Niagara County Corner.”
According to officials, rescuers had to negotiate 300 feet of dangerous frozen terrain to reach the victims.
Rola said: “Even though it’s nice out today, it’s pretty icy down there. It’s really tough terrain that our guys and gals were able to get through to get to them, give them that life-saving care, and do what they could.
According to New York State Trooper James O’Callaghan, “We are not releasing any names because of the possibility that it is a suicide,” he told the Buffalo News on Thursday.
He was unable to explain the visit from the family from Illinois. A hospital representative said no information regarding the boy’s care could be released other than the boy’s medical condition.
the tragic incident at Niagara Falls has left a lasting impact on families, communities and people around the world. The deliberate act of a mother jumping off a cliff with her son in tow raises several questions about mental health, suicide prevention, and the need for support and resources for people struggling with mental health issues. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking help when needed and caution when visiting popular tourist destinations such as Niagara Falls.