Niland, Calif. - Early Sunday morning, Indio station agents rescued a man who was trapped in his vehicle near the intersection of Coachella Canal Road and Spa Road.
At approximately 7 a.m., agents while on patrol encountered a vehicle which appeared to be trapped in flood waters which had developed after heavy rains saturated the area. Upon further inspection, the agents noticed that there was a man inside the vehicle.
The agents secured a tow strap to one of the Border Patrol service vehicles and attached the other end to one of the agents. The agent then crossed the flowing water, pulled the man from his vehicle, and helped him get across the water while the other agents ensured that the tow strap was secure.
Once the man was safe, agents determined that he was a U.S. citizen. The man told agents that he was not injured and that he did not require any medical attention. Agents then cleared the scene.
El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey A. Calhoon praised the agents involved, saying, "Their selfless actions exemplify the character of all of our agents. They put the life of this man above their own and risked their safety to save him."