Suicidal man talked down from brink

After eight hours on a ledge near the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, a 50-year-old Caledonia man was pulled to safety by emergency workers at 12:25 p.m.

Negotiators from Niagara Regional Police talked to the man for most of Wednesday morning. Firefighters with safety harnesses lowered a ladder to help him climb back to the surface.

Niagara Parks Police Insp. Paul Forcier wasn't sure of the man's condition.

"[He] is exhausted and had some degree of hypothermia and he has been take to local hospital. He will be taken for medical care first and then likely, some further care."

Sgt. Mark Diegidio of the NRP says police received a call at around 8:30 a.m., though the man is reported to have been near the water since 7 a.m.

"We've got negotiators on scene attempting to talk the male to safety," Niagara Regional Police Const. Derek Watson told Bullet News around 11:30 Wednesday.

Emergency crews formed a perimeter behind the Table Rock restaurant along the Niagara Parkway.

Niagara Parks Police and Niagara Falls Fire Department had closed off the area behind the Table Rock. Niagara Parks Police, Niagara Falls firefighters and paramedics were also involved in the call.

Paramedics could be seen passing blankets into the gorge just before noon, worrying about hypothermia.

Steve Keene of Cleveland told Bullet News he saw the commotion from his hotel room at the Fallsview Marriott about 8 a.m. He woke up to rescue crews suiting up, noting he could observe the man on a second ledge in the gorge, pacing back and forth. Keene said some of his plans were disrupted because police had shut down WEGO buses in the Table Rock area.

Niagara Parks Commission workers closed the south end of the Table Rock complex. Most attractions remained open, but the Journey Behind the Falls was shut. NPC employees on the scene refused comment but other sources confirmed Journey remained closed until the situation was resolved.

Rowena Cheek, 40, from Charlotte, N.C. is visiting the area with her family.

"We're just visiting and they've been talking about someone jumping," she said. "It's our first time in Canada and we just wish that everything is OK."

- Bullet News Niagara