Man survives 57-metre drop down Niagara Falls

The incident occurred exactly 59 years after a 7-year-old boy survived plunging down Niagara Falls in a barrel

The Niagara Falls straddle the US-Canada border (John Moore/Getty Images)

A man has survived being swept into Niagara Falls and plummeting almost 60-metres.

Police from Ontario, Canada, responded to a call from Horseshoe Falls at around 4pm on Tuesday, following reports that a man, who has yet to be identified, had climbed over a retaining wall to Niagara Falls.

He was swept off the rim of the waterfall, and plunged 188 feet (57.3m) into the Lower Niagara River.

Police began a search of the area and found the man sitting on a rock near the water.

He had suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation.

The man was reported to be “in crisis” by police, who declined to share any further details.

Niagara Falls is a popular tourist destination which straddles the Canada and the United States border, attracting around 30 million visitors annually.

Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three waterfalls at the park.