Detroit burns, drunk Canadian swims Detroit River

I know, sounds like a canoe... Just wanted to share this story. Canada, hell ya!

http://news.yahoo.com/man-swims-across-detroit-river-prompts-rescue-125123622.html

DETROIT (AP) — A man who wanted to prove he could swim across the Detroit River from Canada to the U.S. after a night of drinking ended up prompting an international rescue operation.

John Morillo told The Windsor Star that Monday night's swim from Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, was "really stupid" and said in retrospect he shouldn't have done it. He was cited for being intoxicated in a public place and released from jail Tuesday.

"I was drinking, but I wasn't really drunk," Morillo, 47, of Windsor, said Tuesday. "The thing is, I've been telling people I'm going to swim across the river for years and they're like 'yah, yah, blah, blah, you can't make it.' So, I don't know, last night I just decided it was the time to go."

Morillo said he regrets causing problems for authorities, including Windsor police and Coast Guard crews from the U.S. and Canada. Three boats and a helicopter responded, The Detroit News reported, and authorities warn the river's current makes a dangerous place to swim.

"As soon I saw the helicopters going by and the boats looking for me, I was like 'oh, this is really stupid,'" Morillo told The Windsor Star.

Police in Windsor initially responded around 11:30 p.m., when a neighbor of Morillo called to say she had lost sight of him about a half-hour earlier.

Morillo made it across to Detroit, getting out of the water near downtown's Renaissance Center, and was swimming back when he was found about 12:50 a.m. Tuesday by the U.S. Coast Guard. During his stop on the Detroit side of the river he said people wanted to take his picture.

"There was one woman, she said she was from Windsor and she thought I was crazy," he said. She was right."

Morillo said he was told that he'll also likely be fined for swimming in a shipping channel, which could be $5,000 to $25,000.

it's cute when Canadians do it- at least they have the common courtesy to go back right away...

At least he did it in the summer.

Down here in Texas when they swim (OK it's really just wading) the river, they don't go home afterwards.

He swam in the Detroit River and didn't die from pollution exposure or some trigger happy border guards hoping they'd get to kill a real actual terrorist that night?

Lucky man.

Geez, with the current in the river he's lucky they didn't have to pluck him out of Lake Erie.

Morillo made it across to Detroit, getting out of the water near downtown's Renaissance Center, and was swimming back when he was found about 12:50 a.m.

Well he finally did it and can now rub it all in the doubters' faces!

Morillo said he was told that he'll also likely be fined for swimming in a shipping channel, which could be $5,000 to $25,000.

Oh Oh my...well he better do all he can to get some media appearances out of this.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: He swam in the Detroit River and didn't die from pollution exposure or some trigger happy border guards hoping they'd get to kill a real actual terrorist that night? Lucky man.

I've never seen a border guard on the Detroit River.

Between the current and the width of the river in that area, it's a pretty impressive feat, especially for a drunk guy in his late 40s.

Yeah that section of the river is rather fast with the dreged out channels for the large ships that pass through there. I am more surprised that a ship didn't chew him up. The border in Detroit is a vast amount of shore line that is hardly patrolled, just like the rest of the Canadian-USA border. Thus the high amount of human trafficing crimes from Canada into the USA. Also the river is very clean, well there have been certain canadian companies having accidental spills. A clean river is a upside to almost 80% reduction in industrial and factory operations in the area.

This is the most awesome thing I've read today.

"Sorry aboot that eh. I was drinking but not drunk. They were all 'You're a hoser if you don't!' so I had ta."

He is so apologetic. Not sure what to make of it, surely it is someone else's fault.

Is he really taking responsibility for his own actions?

Xceler8x wrote: This is the most awesome thing I've read today. "Sorry aboot that eh. I was drinking but not drunk. They were all 'You're a hoser if you don't!' so I had ta."

Take off, eh!

aussiesmg wrote: He is so apologetic. Not sure what to make of it, surely it is someone else's fault. Is he really taking responsibility for his own actions?

Pretty weird, eh?

At 47 years of age I give him credit for pulling it off. This world needs more guys just "going for it".

Further pussification of America (and Canada)

GameboyRMH wrote:

Morillo made it across to Detroit, getting out of the water near downtown's Renaissance Center, and was swimming back when he was found about 12:50 a.m.

Well he finally did it and can now rub it all in the doubters' faces!

Morillo said he was told that he'll also likely be fined for swimming in a shipping channel, which could be $5,000 to $25,000.

Oh Oh my...well he better do all he can to get some media appearances out of this.

Meh. The bet was for a bottle of decent whiskey...which will set you back about $5k in Canada.

Or, $2 American, if you prefer.

novaderrik wrote: it's cute when Canadians do it- at least they have the common courtesy to go back right away...

Well, would you want to stay in Detroit? In Canada, he probably has a job.

Datsun310Guy wrote: At 47 years of age I give him credit for pulling it off. This world needs more guys just "going for it". Further pussification of America (and Canada)

berkeleyin' A!!!

...or EH!

To everyone who didn't think he could do it - SUCK IT! Jeez, I'm not 47 and I'm pretty sure I can't swim that far. Old guys doing stuff ( well, not that old, but still ) add one more berkleyin' A !!

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Or, $2 American, if you prefer.

You mean the Conservative gov't has stronger currency than the Socialist gov't!?!? Shocking. At least I can get drunk cheap.

clownkiller wrote: Morillo made it across to Detroit, getting out of the water near downtown's Renaissance Center, and was swimming back when he was found about 12:50 a.m. Tuesday by the U.S. Coast Guard. During his stop on the Detroit side of the river he said people wanted to take his picture.

An even crazier fact is that if he really got out at the Ren Cen, he then swam directly North to get to the USA from Canada!??

JohnRW1621 wrote:

clownkiller wrote: Morillo made it across to Detroit, getting out of the water near downtown's Renaissance Center, and was swimming back when he was found about 12:50 a.m. Tuesday by the U.S. Coast Guard. During his stop on the Detroit side of the river he said people wanted to take his picture.

An even crazier fact is that if he really got out at the Ren Cen, he then swam directly North to get to the USA from Canada!??

wonder if he was the guy from that one song about the city boy that was born and raised in south Detroit? and if so, did he have a Journey song in his head as he was paddling his way north to the USA?

My great grandpa did this. The Americans made him swim back. He ended up 4or 5 miles downstream!

Joey