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OFFICIAL BLOG OF NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM |
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50 YEARS AND ROGER WOODWARD
By GEORGE BAILEY
2010-07-06 14:25:24
|  | 2 comments Latest by George Bailey 07/07/10 16:19:01 EDT |
Fifty year ago, on July 9th 1960, seven year old Roger Woodward accidentally went over Niagara Falls wearing only a pair of trunks and a life jacket. The accident happened when the small boat he was in above the falls capsized and went crashing over the falls. The operator of the boat died.
Roger's sister, 17 year old Deanne who was also in the boat, was miraculously rescued just above the falls on the American side of the border. Thrown clear of the rocks below, Roger was successfully rescued by a crew of one of Niagara Falls attractions, the Maid of the Mist, boats. He was unharmed.
Roger has visited the falls several times and now lives a quiet life in a southern United States city.
Only two others have went over Niagara Falls without the aid of some type of flotation device and lived to tell about it.
Kirk Jones plummeted over Niagara on October 20,2003 wearing jeans and a jacket and an unidentified man went over Niagara Falls in March of 2009. He was rescued below the falls with the assistance of a helicopter from Niagara Helicopters, famous for their Niagara group tours.
Comments
Roger Woodward
It was so nice of you to remember the 50 year anniversary of the accident. I sincerely appreciate you mentioning something about it on your wonderful blog. A reporter recently asked me this question, `What would you like people to remember about you?` I hope people remember how Dee and I worked hard to protect the true spirit of our story. We have always said we were just two kids out for a fun day on the water. Unfortunately, the day turned tragic. Jim Honeycutt lost his life and by the Grace of God, Dee and I were saved. Romans 10:13 Thank you, Roger Woodward
George Bailey
Roger, Thanks for your words. Knowing both you and Dee personally I can say that the sparing of both your lives that day has been a gift and continues to be a gift to many of the people who know you both.
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Photos by George Bailey...
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