In the early twentieth century, an extreme performer looked death in the eye twice and walked away. He successfully executed a staggering 150-foot (45.7-meter) high dive into extremely shallow water right after watching another man perish attempting the exact same feat.
Shortly after, he plunged down the roaring waters of Niagara Falls in a custom-built metal barrel. For years, he toured the world recounting his death-defying feats. Yet, the man who conquered two incredibly dangerous physical challenges would eventually meet his end in the most unlikely and mundane way possible. A simple piece of fruit on a quiet street caused what massive amounts of crashing water and extreme heights could not achieve.
The First Brush with Extreme Danger
Bobby Leach began his career performing extreme stunts with the Barnum and Bailey Circus. During this time, he witnessed a horrifying tragedy. He watched a fellow stuntman die while attempting to dive from a platform towering 150 feet (45.7 meters) in the air into a shallow pool measuring only 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep.
Undeterred by the fatal outcome he had just witnessed, Leach immediately stepped up and executed the exact same dive successfully. This harrowing experience cemented his reputation as a man willing to push the absolute limits of human survival.
Conquering the Churning River Rapids
Seeking an even greater thrill, Leach set his sights on the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls. On July 25, 1911, he decided to attempt the 167-foot (50.9-meter) drop. He constructed a heavy, elongated vessel made entirely of steel. He climbed inside the metal cylinder and was set adrift in the Niagara River.
The violent current pulled the barrel over the edge, dropping him into the plunge pool below. The heavy steel barrel protected him from drowning, but the violent impact of the landing caused severe physical trauma.
Global Fame and a Bizarre Demise
Leach fractured his jaw and broke both of his kneecaps during the violent Niagara descent. After six months in the hospital, he retrieved his heavily dented steel barrel and embarked on extensive global tours. People gathered in lecture halls and theaters across the world to hear him recount the details of surviving his two famous deadly plunges.
In the spring of 1926, Leach was conducting a publicity tour in New Zealand. As he was walking down a street in Auckland, he stepped on an orange peel resting on the pavement. Leach slipped and fell heavily to the ground, severely injuring his leg. The wound became infected, and gangrene set in. Despite an amputation to save his life, Bobby Leach died of complications on April 26, 1926.