• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Disturbing story behind photo of couple posing by Niagara Falls

Home> News> US News

Published 17:06 24 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Disturbing story behind photo of couple posing by Niagara Falls

A woman can be seen straddling the barrier behind the couple

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

A photo of a couple posing by the Niagara Falls has resurfaced online.

If you didn't know the story behind it, then it could be mistaken for simply being an adoring photo of two lovebirds, albeit one of them being Batman...or at least donning a replica shirt of the superhero's emblem.

It's actually a lot more disturbing than that.

Horseshoe falls on the Canadian Side of Niagara Falls. (Getty stock image)
Horseshoe falls on the Canadian Side of Niagara Falls. (Getty stock image)

Advert

Let's rewind back to 2011, 14 August to be precise.

Japanese student Ayano Tokumasu visited the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls with her classmates from the Hansa Language Centre, in Toronto.

She posed for a picture that her friend was taking, but decided to push the boundaries and so sat on the safety barrier - with the thought that it would make for a better photo.

Police who studied the surveillance footage from the visitor's center nearby witnessed the event unfold.

Advert

The 20-year-old was holding an umbrella while sitting with one leg either side of the arm rail while looking down at the falls.

But tragedy struck when she attempted to climb back over the railing, it was then that she appeared to lose her balance and slipped into the water by the edge of the Horseshoe Falls and into the water below.

A couple pose for a picture while Tokumasu can be seen straddling the railings behind them in a red jumper. (r/lastimages/Reddit)
A couple pose for a picture while Tokumasu can be seen straddling the railings behind them in a red jumper. (r/lastimages/Reddit)

Tokumasu's body was discovered four days later at 10am floating on the New York side of the lower Niagara River at by staff at Cave of the Winds, a park attraction.

Advert

Speaking at the time, Niagara Parks Police Chief Doug Kane said: “We have received information from the State Parks Police confirming that the found remains from yesterday are those of the missing student that fell into the river last Sunday."

Her family decided against speaking publicly about the incident, although Masaya Otsuka, a diplomat at the Japanese consulate-general in Toronto spoke about it on their behalf.

Otsuka said per the Toronto Star: “Of course, this is a big tragedy for the family, too.

Ayano Tokumasu was from Toyohashi, a city in Japan. (Facebook)
Ayano Tokumasu was from Toyohashi, a city in Japan. (Facebook)

Advert

"The family is receiving a big shock.”

According to her Facebook profile, Tokumasu hailed from Toyohashi, which was located around 250km to the southwest of Japan's capital city, Tokyo.

Tokumasu was not the last fatality to come from those who went over the falls.

In 2017, Kirk Jones died on the US side of the water after attempting to go down inside an inflatable ball but unfortunately he had fallen out of it and he died in the process.

Advert

Jones decided to go down after he became the first person to survive the falls without any aid on 22 October, 2003.

Featured Image Credit: r/lastimages/Reddit

Topics: Canada, Japan

Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Joe is a journalist for UNILAD, who particularly enjoys writing about crime. He has worked in journalism for five years, and has covered everything from murder trials to celeb news.

X

@JMYjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Haunting last posts of mom who ‘intentionally’ jumped from Niagara falls with her two children
  • Heartbreaking discovery made by family of NHL star Chris Simon after his tragic suicide at 52
  • Man gets trampled to death by elephants in front of fiancée as disturbing details emerge
  • FBI responds after body of Trump shooter allegedly disappears after 'disturbing fact' is discovered by congressman

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 5 hours ago

    Amazon Prime series with near-perfect RT score is labeled 'one of the best' by Stephen King

    The series starring Titus Welliver has been branded 'one of the most underrated TV shows'

    Film & TV
  • 8 hours ago

    People horrified after hearing tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s ‘sociopathic’ response about the future of humanity

    People have been creeped out by how he answered a simple question

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Doctor issues warning over hidden symptoms of Lyme disease as tick bites near record highs in US states

    Parts of the US have seen a sudden uptick in tick bites

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    ‘World’s top couple’s therapist’ reveals the one surprising behavior in people’s relationships that ‘scares her’

    The psychologist said this one thing in other couples doesn't seem real

    News