sunday’s strong winds turned

the annual port huron, michigan float down

into an accidental international expedition.

the associated press reports around 1,500 people were sent across the st. clair river’s international border while riding inflatable rafts, tubes, boats, and other floatation devices.

canadian authorities helped bring them back to michigan from sarnia, ontario.  police reportedly arranged for sarnia transit to take the stranded rafters back stateside.  

Facebook post from the rafters:

“we want to express our gratitude to the canadian authorities for their assistance and understanding with the floaters who’ve unintentionally been forced to the canadian shoreline. you’ve shown us true kindness and what it means to be amazing neighbors!”

sarnia police tell the a.p. only minor injuries were reported in the incident, which started at port huron’s lighthouse beach and was slated to end at marysville’s chrysler beach before mother nature took control. 
authorities report that “a strong current and lack of life jackets” heightened the hazards in the incident. the port huron float down is an annual event between michigan and canada, which takes participants 7.5 miles down the st. clair river. shipowners are speaking out against an annual, loosely organized event that sends thousands floating down the st. clair river.

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credits: associated press, mlive.com, sarnia police,

blackburnnews.com, benjamin raven