ENCINO, Texas ̶̶ Agents from the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) unit rescued a man in distress after he placed a call to the Brooks County Emergency Dispatch Center on Tuesday.
The Guatemalan man placed the call after severely spraining his right ankle in a remote area near Encino. BORSTAR agents were advised of the injured man, responded to the area, and made contact with the subject a few minutes later. Agents administered first aid but had to use a stretcher to transport the man from the area for further medical attention.
The area was so remote that BORSTAR agents had to drive on sandy ranch roads for almost an hour and then trek 30 minutes on foot through thick, sticker-laden brush before reaching the individual. Once stabilized, agents carried the man on the stretcher back through the same brush before arriving at the transport vehicles.
The BORSTAR agents are part of a specialized unit of the United States Border Patrol trained in emergency search and rescue. BORSTAR agents primarily assist injured or stranded migrants who enter the United States illegally in remote locations.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity, call the sector’s toll-free telephone number at 1-800-863-9382.