On Sunday, hundreds of people took to the St. Clair River for the annual Port Huron Float Down.
This unsanctioned event has drawn as many as 4,000 participants in previous years, but it seems that the threat of thunderstorms kept attendance lower this time around.
According to an email from Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Communication Officer Jeremy Hennessy to Sarnia News Today, there were about 800-1000 participants.
The CCG and the U. S. Coast Guard issued a joint statement last week warning about the risks associated with the event; however, they confirmed that no incidents or injuries requiring emergency response occurred.
The float spans 12 kilometers from Port Huron’s Lighthouse Beach to Chrysler Beach in Marysville and gained international attention back in 2016 when strong winds pushed 1,500 U. S. residents across the river into Canada, many without identification.
“There were a few US floaters that were blown onto the Canadian shoreline. Local law enforcement addressed the repatriation of these floaters,” said Hennessy.
A tragic incident occurred in 2014 when a 19-year-old experienced swimmer from Michigan drowned during the event.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and Sarnia Fire and Rescue also monitored safety during the day.
Vessel traffic on the St. Clair River was restricted from the Blue Water Bridge to the upper end of Stag Island between noon and 6 p. m.
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