William “Red” Hill Jr. rides the Niagara Falls rapids in a barrel.Greek philosopher George Statakis climbs into an oak barrel with a steel lining to ride the Niagara Falls. It has an 3 hour oxygen supply and weighs over a ton, Statakis brings a 105 year old turtle with him on his fatal plunge. His hand waves goodbye from the portal of the barrel. Men assist in closing the airtight barrel and tow the barrel out to the falls behind a boat.The barrel floats in the rapids and plunges over the waterfall as spectators look on. The barrel got caught in the rocks and eventually ran out of oxygen, Statakis died however his pet turtle survived the fall.More footage of William “Red” Hill Jr. this time covering his fatal plunge over the Niagara Falls in a barrel made out of inner tubes he called “The Thing.” In 1951 Hill Jr. attempted to recreate his famous father’s adventure but his inner tube barrel tore apart and he met an untimely death.