Falls survivor remembers the event that changed his life

9/30/15

The only person to survive being accidentally swept over the Horseshoe Falls, was back at the Falls today. Roger Woodward was only 7 years old when he plunged over the Falls wearing only a life jacket for protection. Lauran Sabourin spoke to Woodward today about the miraculous event that changed his life forever.

There is a picture of 7 year old Roger Woodward in July 1960, just moments after he was plunged over the Horseshoe Falls. Going over The Falls in a sensation he will never forget. “I had the sensation of floating. I guess it would be vertigo. I couldn’t tell if I was up or down. I never had butterflies in my stomach…it wasn’t like a roller coaster or anything like that…it was just floating.”

Minutes earlier Roger was feeling sheer terror. The aluminum boat he and his sister Deanne and a family friend were in hit a rock. It knocked out the engine and the boat capsized. “I remember being thrown into the air like a rag doll, and coming down solid against a rock.” Read More.