Man becomes 3rd to survive plunge at Niagara Falls after apparent suicide attempt

May 21, 2012: In this photo provided by Jared Fisk, Niagara Falls emergency officials rescue a man who plunged over Niagara Falls and survived in an apparent suicide attempt. (AP)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A man has survived a plunge of at least 180 feet over Niagara Falls in an apparent suicide attempt.

He is only the third person known to have lived after going over the falls without a safety device. Authorities did not identify him.

Niagara Parks Police say witnesses reported seeing the man climb over a railing over the Horseshoe Falls on Monday and "deliberately jump" into the Niagara River. He surfaced in the lower Niagara River basin near an observation platform and managed to make it to shore on his own.

A Niagara Falls, Ontario, fire department official said the man was conscious. He appeared to have chest injuries, and was taken to a hospital, where a spokeswoman said the man was critically injured but was expected to survive.