The infamous Bobby Leach plunged over the Falls in a STEEL barrel. Bobby broke both kneecaps and his jaw during his daring event. Years later while touring in New Zealand, Bobby slipped on an orange peel and died from complications due to gangrene ! This was in 1911
The actual first person was Annie Taylor was the first person to conquer the falls in a barrel. After climbing inside her airtight WOODEN barrel, the air pressure was compressed to 30 p.s.i. with a bicycle pump. This was in 1901.She also survived.