John Fulton, known as The Surfing Santa, waves goodbye to onlookers on the Fort Erie, Ont., shoreline of the Niagara River, Sunday. Photo: Robert Kirkham/AP

Toronto — A wind-surfing Santa took an unintended ride Sunday when strong winds took him across the Niagara River — and the Canadian border.

The Canadian man was promptly arrested in Buffalo by the United States Border Patrol.

For 18 years, fitness instructor John Fulton has donned a Santa suit to sail across the river at Christmas. He said he performs the annual stunt in support of the homeless.

Mr. Fulton usually departs from his home town of Fort Erie, Ont., and arrives back at shore on the Canadian side.

But stiff winds and currents pushed him to the American side of the river and into the arms of U.S. border guards.

Mr. Fulton was taken into custody, then shipped back to Canada after he agreed to sign a form stating he had illegally entered the United States.