Better weather, more Float Down participation

The sun was shining as an estimated 4,000 people floated along the St. Clair River Sunday, with helicopters flying overhead, and police and coast guard vessels keeping watch.

“We had a lot more floaters this year,” said the Canadian Coast Guard’s Kathleen Getty about this year’s Port Huron Float Down.

In 2022, an estimated 500 to 1,000 people took part under the threat of thunderstorms in the event that sees people — mostly Americans — ride the current on floatation devices from north of the Blue Water Bridge to around Corunna.

This year participation was the highest it’s been in years in the unsanctioned annual tradition that includes officials shutting the river to motorized traffic for safety reasons, Getty said.

About 50 people had to be helped by rescuers, Getty said.

“It could be that they aren’t wearing a PFD (personal floatation device) and their floatie deflated; people got separated from their group kind of thing,” she said.

One person without a PFD and intoxicated had to be rescued, she said.

“Otherwise it went smooth.”

There’ve been no major incidents at float downs since 2016, when wind pushed 1,500 Americans to the Canadian shore without identification, money, cellphones or a way home. They were bused back to Michigan after being processed by Canadian officials.

In 2014, a 19-year-old experienced official drowned during the event.

Kenzie Kelly and his friends, most from London, said, as they readied for the water, they were aware of the risks and took precautions, like bringing life jackets, and letting others know their float plans.

The first-time floaters often go on adventures on the water together, said Alyssa Crookshank, with Kelly noting that includes kayaking on the Thames River.

“We like to just go out on the water and chill and get together and catch up together,” said Crookshank, adding she was “pumped” for the Float Down.

German brothers Jan-Nicklas Mahlow and Sven Ole Mahlow, visiting people they know in Sarnia after Jan-Nicklas spent time here as an exchange student eight years ago, were also first-time participants.

Both said they were excited moments before casting off with Sarnia couple Jacqueline Vercouteren and Colton McGugan, also first-time floaters.

Vercouter said she works with Shari Eyre, who hosted Mahlow during his exchange and who, with Mahlow’s parents, were meeting the group at the end of their float in Guthrie Park.

Hundreds of people lined the shore, many with cameras and some with binoculars.

The last floaters were clearing the river around 7 pm, Getty said, noting a dozen rescue vessels from the Canadian side were on the water during the day.

“Probably just as many” from the US, she said.

Other agencies participating in making the event safe included Transport Canada, local police, fire and paramedics, coast guards on both sides of the border, Canada Border Services, RCMP and OPP, she said.

“We’re out there to ensure that nobody dies,” she said days before this year’s float downdiscouraging people from taking part.

“We’re not there to support the event.”

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