Border Patrol Rescues Illegal Alien in Perilous Terrain

OCOTILLO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro Sector successfully aided a man that was suffering from a heat related illness Saturday afternoon.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., agents working in the Jacumba Mountain Wilderness area south of Ocotillo apprehended seven individuals.  These individuals were attempting to abscond from the agents, as they had illegally entered the United States through this mountainous area.  Agents eventually apprehended all seven individuals, all of which were illegal alien male adults from Mexico.

Agents on scene immediately noticed that one of the individuals, a 47-year-old male, was in distress.  He appeared to be severely dehydrated and suffering from a heat related illness.  The temperature that day was around 101 degrees and the terrain in that area is mountainous and extremely dangerous.

Agents requested air support and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to assist with the ailing man.  Dispatch notified the agents that both air support and an EMT were in route.  Agents on scene placed the man under some shade and provided water while they waited.  First to arrive was a certified EMT Border Patrol agent.  He evaluated and began to treat the man for his ailments.  Air support arrived shortly after to the location, but were unable to land due to the mountainous terrain.  Agents instantly realized that the only way to get the man the medical attention he needed was to carry him out themselves.  Agents quickly and safely secured the man onto a litter (rescue basket) and began to carry the 159-pound man to Interstate 8, where Imperial County Fire and Rescue was waiting for them.  Agents successfully extracted the man to the highway and he was immediately transported to a local hospital.

The other six individuals stated they were not injured and appeared to be in good health.  Emergency Medical Technicians evaluated and medically cleared all six subjects.  Agents conducted an immigration and criminal history screening in the field before expelling them under Title 42 Authority.

“Carrying a man out of this dangerous terrain and in this fearsome heat is no easy task,” said Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino.  “Our agents are having to routinely put their own safety at risk to save the lives of those who do not take the dangers of crossing illegally into the United States seriously.”

The distressed man was treated, released from the local hospital and transported to El Centro station.  There he was processed for illegally entering the U.S. and will be repatriated back to his country of origin.