Japanese woman presumed dead after falling into the Niagara Falls

[News_Editor]

Japanese woman presumed dead after falling into the Niagara Falls

2011-08-16 10:48:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

NIAGARA FALLS (BNO NEWS) -- A Japanese student is presumed to have been killed on Sunday when she fell into the Niagara Falls while taking a picture, police said on Monday.

According to reports, the 19-year-old female was standing on top of protective railing while holding an umbrella to take a picture with Niagara Falls in the background. But witnesses say the woman slipped and fell into the waterfalls, which measure up to 167 feet (51 meters) in height.

WIVB-TV reported that the woman was on the Canadian side of the Niagara River when she fell and, according to the Niagara Parks Police, she fell around 80 feet (24 meters) upstream from the Horseshoe Falls. Authorities reviewed surveillance video footage and determined that foul play was not involved.

The woman was accompanied by another female friend and was reportedly the only other person nearby during the incident. The victim's name has not been released until authorities - who are working with the Japanese consulate - are able to inform her relatives.

The body of the Japanese student was not immediately found during aerial searches of the area on Sunday and Monday. However, during the search operation, a helicopter from the Erie County Sheriff's Office found the body of a man who has not yet been identified, although the death is unrelated to the woman.

On Sunday, a 27-year-old Canadian man from London, Ontario, fell around 30 feet (9 meters) into the Niagara Falls as well, but after hours of rescue work, he was able to survive the fall. According to reports, the man suffered a broken leg and head trauma. He will reportedly be charged under the Niagara Parks Act of Ontario.

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