TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued two men during separate weekend incidents; one of whom used a Border Patrol rescue beacon.
On Nov. 8, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from Nogales Station agents after receiving a call from a 74-year-old injured hiker in the desert west of the I-19 checkpoint. Two agents located the elderly U.S. citizen and determined he had a broken ankle. Tubac Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and, with the agents’ assistance, carried the man to a waiting helicopter for transport to Tucson for further medical care.
A rescue beacon activation early Sunday, led to the rescue of a male Mexican national after he crossed into the U.S. illegally on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Agents from the Three Points substation found the man who had called 911 the previous day after running out of food and water. Following a medical evaluation, agents processed the subject for removal in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.
Border Patrol agents frequently shift from law enforcement to rescue mode. Local, state, federal and tribal agencies working together greatly improves the chances of survival for individuals finding themselves in dire situations.