On February 13, tragedy struck Niagara Falls as a mother and her 5-year-old son jumped from a 90-foot cliff at the Niagara Falls gorge.
The incident left the mother dead and her son hospitalized with serious injuries.
According to witnesses, 34-year-old woman from Illinois and her son were walking along the cliff before they suddenly jumped.
According to officials, resfromcue teams were dispatched to perform emergency care on the boy and his mother.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Despite suffering multiple injuries, including a broken leg and several fractures, the 5-year-old boy was airlifted to a nearby hospital. He is now said to be in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.
“Although today it’s nice out, it’s very icy down there. It’s real tough terrain that our guy and our girls were able to get through and get to them and provide that life-saving care and do everything they could but, as far as putting other people at risk, we were going to make every effort for that child that was still alive at the time,” New York State Parks Police Captain Chris Rola told reporters during a press conference.
Although an investingation into what prompted the jump is ongoing, Rola alluded to possible mental health challenges being at play.
“The investigation is ongoing, but we don’t believe it is an accident,” Rola told reporters.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many people expressing their condolences for the family and their hope for the young boy’s recovery.
Law enforcement has decided not to identify the woman or child involved in the incident.
As the investigation continues, the community has come together to mourn the loss of a mother and support her young son in his recovery.