A New York mother and her two children, including an infant, met a tragic end after she leapt from Niagara Falls, police have disclosed. Chaianti Means, 33, was seen casually vaulting the guardrail at Luna Island on Monday evening, leading to a fatal fall from the renowned 200-foot-high viewpoint.
Syracuse.com has reported that search teams are still attempting to recover their remains.New York State Police responded around 9pm with detectives determining the fall to be “intentional.”
“The circumstances remain under investigation,” added the state troopers. Means resided in Niagara Falls with her children, Mecca Means, aged 5 months, and Roman Rossman, aged 9, reports The Mirror US.Â
In a similar heartbreaking incident in February 2023, an Illinois mother perished in the same manner, although her son survived after they both jumped from a 90-foot precipice onto the icy edges of the Niagara Falls gorge.
State police report that the 34 year old woman, whose identity has not been released, scaled a barrier on Goat Island in Niagara State Park around 12:30pm on February 12 before deliberately jumping. Her body was found near the Cave of the Winds facility on the American side of the falls, which straddle the Canadian border.
While the woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene, her five year old son was rescued and rushed to a Buffalo children’s hospital with a head injury. Despite surgery, his condition remained critical the following day.
Moments after the incident, the child appeared to be conscious as he was placed into an ambulance in photos , according to DailyMail. After being carried to the truck for stabilisation, he was soon placed aboard a chopper and sent for immediate medical attention. Capt.
Chris Rola of New York State Parks Police stated during the investigation, they did not believe the incident was an accident but a grisly suicide attempt. Rescuers were able to descend with ease after the two fell into the gorge near the Cave of the Winds elevator.
Firefighters from Niagara Falls managed to climb the ice from the gorge’s bottom to the mother and son’s landing spot. A helicopter took the youngster to Oishei Children’s Hospital after they managed to transport him to the elevator and up to an island parking lot.
The child was seen being stretchered aboard a waiting helicopter in dramatic video. Her body was flown out of the gorge after the woman was declared dead at the scene.
“Niagara falls is a tough place to perform rescues,” said Rola during a press conference. The boy “was stable enough that they were able to carry him out bring him up the elevator to a waiting ambulance. Unfortunately the female is did not make it and she was recovered by the New York State Police Aviation unit and is being taken by the Niagara County Corner.”
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123.
Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.