Jean Lussier

After eluding officials and rowing the ball about 3.2 kilometers (approx. 2 miles) above the drop of Horseshoe Falls, Lussier began his journey downstream on July 4, 1928, when he was 36 years old.[2] Just before it reached the brink, the largest external stabilizer was ripped out. At 3:35 P.M., Lussier went over the falls, and the ball sustained heavy damage to the inner tubing and frame. At 4:23 P.M., the ball was recovered, and Lussier emerged relatively unscathed, with only minor bruising from the impact, making him the third successful daredevil to survive going over Niagara Falls (fourth total, counting Stephens' lethal attempt).[3]

Capitalizing on his newfound fame and notoriety, Lussier moved to Niagara Falls, New York, and began selling pieces of debris from the ball to tourists. Once he ran out, he later used pieces of tires. In 1952, when Lussier was 61 years old, he dreamed of becoming the only person to go over both of the major Niagara Falls. He started making plans to make his second daredevil stunt and go over the American Falls in a more complex rubber ball featuring layers of cork and aluminum, and a series of braces to support the structure, as it would be twice as big as the one used at the Horseshoe Falls. Unfortunately, his dreams never materialized, and he retired in 1958 at the age of 67. Lussier died of natural causes in 1971 at the age of 80.[3]