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Niagara Falls is a breathtaking natural wonder, comprising the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian Falls. Its sheer power and majestic beauty are truly awe-inspiring. With the highest flow rate of any waterfall globally, the waters plummet 165 feet onto jagged rocks below. For centuries, this iconic destination has attracted tourists. Beginning in the 1820s, alongside sightseers, artists, nature lovers, and honeymooners, a new type of visitor emerged: the daredevil.
Many sought instant fame through daring feats at the Falls. In 1829, Sam Patch made two daring jumps into the Niagara River, first from 85 feet and later from 130 feet. During the 1850s to 1870s, The Great Farini, Maria Spelterini, and Jean Francois Gravelot, known as “The Great Blondin,” crossed the Niagara River Gorge on tightropes. Frank M. Brown swam across the river, while Walter Campbell and his dog Jumbo braved the category 6 whirlpool rapids in the 1880s. That same decade, Carlisle Graham, a barrel maker, successfully navigated the rapids, cementing the iconic link between Niagara Falls and barrels. Not all survived, as the Falls claimed nearly as many lives as it made stars. Even survivors rarely achieved lasting fame or fortune. Today, performing stunts without a license is illegal, with fines up to $10,000, yet attempts persist. These daredevils were the original thrill-seekers, driven by adrenaline and the desire to conquer nature.
Although the first person to go over Horseshoe Falls didn’t attempt it until 1901 (the American Falls were too dangerous), earlier stunts involved going over the edge. In 1827, a boat filled with animals was sent over the Falls; of the dozen aboard, only a goose survived. Not all survivors were daredevils—seven-year-old Roger Woodward survived a boating accident and was rescued by a Maid of the Mist vessel. Two men also survived going over the Falls in 2009 and 2012. This list highlights the daredevils who intentionally challenged Niagara, seeking to conquer its mighty force. For them, it was the ultimate test of human versus nature, a spectacle of courage and ambition. Here, we recount the rare few who dared to face Niagara, some succeeding and others paying the ultimate price.
10. Annie Edson Taylor First Person to go over the Falls
On her 63rd birthday, October 24, 1901, Annie Taylor braved Niagara Falls inside a pickle barrel. Protected only by the barrel, compressed air from a bicycle pump, and her lucky pillow, she embarked on her daring journey. After sealing the barrel with a cork, she drifted toward the American shore, south of Goat Island. Seventeen minutes later, she was rescued with just a minor head injury. Despite being hailed as the “Heroine of Niagara Falls,” Annie warned others against attempting such a feat and gained little financial reward. She passed away in poverty in 1921.
9. Bobby Leach First Man to go over the Falls
Bobby Leach, an Englishman and a seasoned performer with Barnum and Bailey Circus, became the first man to conquer Niagara Falls in a barrel. He aimed to achieve a trio of daring feats: navigating the whirlpool in a barrel, parachuting from the Suspension Bridge, and going over the Falls. On July 25th, he accomplished the latter in an eight-foot steel drum. Rescued after 22 minutes, Leach suffered two broken kneecaps and a fractured jaw, unlike Annie Taylor. Later, he attempted to swim through the whirlpool rapids but was saved by William “Red” Hill, Sr. Ironically, Leach’s death was not due to Niagara but gangrene from slipping on an orange peel.
8. Charles Stephens Third to go over /First to die
In the same year Bobby Leach was rescued by Red Hill, Sr., Charles Stephens, known as “The Demon Barber of Bristol,” attempted his own plunge over Niagara Falls. A renowned daredevil in England, Stephens ignored advice from Leach and Hill to test his oak barrel. On July 11th, he launched from Snyder’s Point with his arms strapped to the barrel and his feet tied to an anvil. Tragically, the anvil tore through the barrel’s base, ripping Stephens from it. Only his tattooed right arm, bearing the words “Forget Me Not Annie,” was recovered. Charles Stephens became the first daredevil to lose his life attempting to conquer the Falls.
7. George A. Stathakis Second to die from the plunge
George Strathakis, originally from Greece, dreamed that conquering Niagara Falls would bring him fame and help publish his works on metaphysical experiences and religious mysticism. He constructed a sturdy 2,000-pound barrel made of steel and wood. On July 5th, 1930, Strathakis survived the initial plunge, but his barrel became trapped behind the Falls—a first in Niagara’s history. Rescuers couldn’t reach him for 22 hours, and with only 8 hours of oxygen, he suffocated. Remarkably, his 150-year-old pet turtle, Sonny Boy, survived the ordeal.
6. Red Hill Jr. Third to die from the plunge
Red Hill Jr., the eldest son of the legendary Niagara river-man William “Red” Hill Sr., carved out his own legacy. He assisted his father in recovering over 100 bodies from the river and Falls. Despite numerous trips across the rapids, Hill struggled to achieve fame or fortune. Twenty-one years after George Stathakis’s death, Hill, with limited resources, built “The Thing,” a contraption made of heavy inner tubes. On August 5th, 1951, he launched from Ushers Creek on the Canadian shore and went over Horseshoe Falls at 3:30 PM. His mother, wife, and daughter watched as “The Thing” resurfaced in fragments, with no sign of Hill. His battered body was found the next day. Hill’s death led to laws banning stunts in Niagara Parks.
5. Nathan Boya Fifth to go over / First black man
A decade after Red Hill Jr.’s tragic attempt, Nathan Boya embarked on his own journey over Niagara Falls. Using a sphere reinforced with steel and rubber layers, Boya ensured he had 30 hours of oxygen supply. On July 15th, 1961, his “Plunge-O-Sphere” was launched, narrowly avoiding the American Falls due to the current. Boya reportedly felt every moment of the descent until his vessel struck the rocks below. Fined $100 for his illegal stunt, he became the first black man to conquer the Falls, though he sought neither fame nor fortune. Later, he earned a doctorate in sociology and a post-doctorate in medical behavior.
4. Karel Soucek Fifth to go over / First non-American
Karel Soucek, a Czechoslovakian living in Canada, became the first non-American to successfully go over Niagara Falls in 23 years. Dubbing himself the “Last of the Niagara Daredevils,” Soucek spent a year meticulously planning and promoting his stunt. On July 2nd, 1984, his assistants launched his custom-designed red barrel from the Canadian shore. The lightweight vessel, made of metal and plastic, ensured he traveled feet-first. Emerging 45 minutes later with minor injuries, Soucek was fined $500, and his barrel was confiscated. Tragically, he died the following year attempting a similar plunge into a water tank at the Houston Astrodome.
3. Jessie Sharp Fourth to die from the plunge
Jesse Sharp, a skilled kayaker, aimed to be the first person to kayak over Horseshoe Falls. On June 5, 1990, he embarked on his daring journey in a 3.6-meter kayak, refusing to wear a helmet or life jacket. Known for his risky exploits, Sharp often had his parents alert authorities before his stunts. This time, he brought friends to document his attempt. Sharp was last seen at the edge of Horseshoe Falls, and while his kayak was recovered, his body was never found.
2. Jeffrey Petkovich and Peter DeBernardi First pair to go over the Falls
Jeffrey Petkovich and Peter DeBernardi made history as the first duo to go over Niagara Falls together. On September 28, 1989, they launched their yellow steel and plexiglass barrel, emblazoned with the slogan, “Don’t Put Yourself On The Edge – Drugs Kill.” Petkovich added a quirky touch by wearing a necktie and cowboy boots. Their daring feat earned them a $20,000 fine.
1. John (Dave) Munday First to go over the Falls twice
Dave Munday is the only person to have gone over Niagara Falls twice. A thrill-seeker by nature, Munday worked as a skydiving instructor, helicopter pilot, and aircraft pilot. On October 5th, 1985, he became the ninth person to conquer the Falls in a silver and red aluminum barrel, capturing the experience on video. He was fined $1,500 for the stunt. Munday repeated his feat on August 26th, 1993, using a retrofitted diving bell. Knocked unconscious during the plunge, he was rescued by a Maid of the Mist boat.
