Karel Soucek
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Karel Soucek, born in Czechoslovakia c. 1947, died January 20, 1985 in Houston, Texas, was a Canadian professional stuntperson. He lived in Hamilton, Ontario.
On July 3, 1984, his bright, red, nine-foot custom-made barrel bearing the words, "The Last of Niagara's Daredevils" was rolled into the Niagara river 1000 feet above the cataract. In seconds, it was swept over the brink. Shortly after, Soucek emerged safe but bleeding. Soucek was fined $500 for performing the stunt without a license.
Having tasted success, he decided to build a museum at Niagara Falls, Ontario in which to display his stunting paraphernalia. He convinced a corporation to finance a barrel drop of 180 feet from the top of the Houston Astrodome into a tank of water to pay for his project.
On January 19, 1985, as Soucek was enclosed in his barrel, 180 feet above the floor of the Astrodome, the barrel was released prematurely. Unexpectedly, it began spinning as it fell toward the floor. Instead of landing in the center of the tank of water, his barrel hit the rim. Soucek, severely injured, died the next day. Evel Knievel, the well-known stuntperson, called it the most dangerous stunt he had ever seen and said he had tried to persuade Soucek to cancel it, to no avail.
He is buried at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada cemetery.
His barrel from the Niagara falls jump is on display at the New York State Museum in Albany, NY.
