Kayaker Rafael Rafa Ortiz survives a trip over Palouse Falls that is higher than Niagara Falls
Rafael “Rafa” Ortiz is the second person to kayak over a Washington waterfall, which is higher than Niagara Falls.
Kayaker Rafael “Rafa” Ortiz, 24, took the plunge at Palouse Falls in Washington State, and paddled himself down the 189-foot fall.
The Mexican extreme kayaker followed in the footsteps, or wake, of the original record breaker, Tyler Bradt, who pulled off the stunt in 2009.
On his Facebook page, Rafa Ortiz recounted the harrowing hurdle after he completed it on April 25.
“It was sooooooo big. U get to the lip, loo down… and then its just a trip. Longest freefall of your life,” he wrote.
“Impact was good. Then the turbulence started pulling me out, one hand in the paddle other hand trying to hold me in my boat. Finally came out.”
He was not injured at all during the stunt, and the only problem came when he was ripped from his kayak after hitting the water at the bottom of the fall.
According to the Red Bull extreme sports website, that detractor means that it disqualifies Rafa Ortiz from actually being held at the same
His light-hearted retelling of the move shows that he was not too shaken up by the ordeal, but is “glad its over hahaha”.
While this is certainly his highest accomplishment to date, Rafael Ortiz has a number of other credits to his name.
He was the first Mexican to participate in the World Freestyle kayaking championships and has recently taken on the sport of expedition paddling.
The waterfall is part of the Snake River which runs through the south east corner of Washington State.
Niagara Falls, arguably the most famous American waterfall, is only 167 feet high.
Earlier this week, a man tried to commit suicide by jumping over Niagara Falls but was the third person to survive such an act.