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Broadcast time: 5:55 PM |
Date: 21 August, 2016 |
At approximately 4:00 PM on August 21, 2016 the Sarnia Police Service started receiving calls regarding individuals who were in need of assistance on the St. Clair River. The people requiring help are members of the Port Huron Float Down, an annual event which sees thousands of people “float down” the St. Clair River on various types of floatation devices.
The floaters started at Lighthouse Park in Port Huron, Michigan. Due to high winds of approximately 40 kms per hour coming out of the Northwest, many of them were pushed toward the Canadian side of the river. This, along with cooler water and weather conditions, left many in need of assistance. This is occurring all along the St. Clair River from Sarnia all the way down to Corunna and surrounding areas.
Hundreds of people are being assisted by the Sarnia Police Service, Sarnia Fire Department, Lambton EMS, Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Customs and Border Agency, RCMP and Canada Coastguard water units, Sarnia Transit, Canadian Red Cross, security and fire personnel from the various chemical and petro-chemical plants that border the St. Clair River, and members of the general public. With the assistance of all of these people and agencies, the Sarnia Police Service is currently helping the people from the water, rendering any immediate assistance needed, and then transporting any American Citizens back to US Customs and Immigration on Sarnia Transit buses.
If any members of the public encounter people from this float down in need of assistance, please contact the Sarnia Police Service for assistance, or the OPP if the location is outside of Sarnia.
Staff Sergeant Peter Murphy
D Platoon – Community Response Division
Tel: 519-344-8861 Ext 5271
Email: pmurphy@police.sarnia.on.ca