Man rescued after trying to swim to Canada across the Detroit River Monday morning

DETROIT (WWJ) -- A man has been rescued after trying to swim across the Detroit River, according to authorities.

Around 3 a.m., Detroit Fire crews received a call from a fisherman who saw a man in the water, not too far from the shore in Detroit.

Officials said the man was trying to swim to Canada — less than a month after another man attempted to do the same thing. In that case last month, the crew of the JW Westcott mail boat saved the man .

In Monday's instance, however, the Detroit Fire Department Marine Division handled this rescue on its own.

"They have a fast rescue boat that they can use now to get folks out of the river, which has come in quite handy here lately, with more and more access to the waterfront," said JW Westcott General Manager Sam Buchanan.

He said the Westcott crew always works closely with Detroit rescue crews, and they're always out there keeping an eye on things.

"I do not know why people are jumping in the river and trying to swim," Buchanan told WWJ Newsradio 950. "But I would tell the public it's never a good idea to jump into the Detroit River at any time of year, because the water is choppy, it's unpredictable, and it can be quite cold. Well, most of the year it's gonna be cold."

Buchanan said the current in the river can carry a person about a mile an hour.

While it's not yet clear exactly why the man was trying to swim to Canada early Monday, WWJ's Charlie Langton reports the man said he was "trying to help his family."

There is no additional information at this time about the man, who was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Langton said the man is expected to be OK.

"He'll make it; obviously a little bit confused," Langton said. "But give some credit to the Detroit Fire Department, the Marine Division."