United States and Canadian coast guards are advising that people not participate in this Sunday’s Port Huron Float Down.
The float down, which is held annually in downtown Port Huron, has become a popular pastime. Participants ride inflated floatation devices down the St. Clair River, starting from Lighthouse Beach at 1 PM before making an eight mile journey up to Marysville’s Chrysler Beach.
The event has drawn in thousands of residents and visitors alike, despite the potentially life threatening conditions.
“High risk factors such as fast-moving current, weather conditions, water temperature, large number of participants, lack of lifejackets, alcohol consumption, and limited rescue resources can create challenging emergency response scenarios that can result in serious injuries or fatalities,” the coast guards said in a statement this past Monday.
For those still intent on participating, traffic on the St. Clair River has been closed from noon until 7 PM.
