William "Red" Hill, Sr.

Who was William "Red" Hill, Sr.?

William “Red” Hill Sr. was a Canadian daredevil and rescuer, born in Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1888. In 1896 he received his first medal for bravery when he rescued his sister from their burning house which was followed by a life saving medal in 1912, achieving the status as a local hero. Hill would go on to receive a total of four medals in addition to being credited with saving 28 lives and the recovery of 177 accident and suicide victims from the Niagara River just below the Falls. His repution grew as a renowned Canadian daredevil in 1930 with a five-hour journey in a 6-foot-long steel barrel which began just below the falls at the Maid of the Mist boat landing and through the treacherous Niagara lower rapids ending up several miles down stream at Queenston, Ontario.