Marfa, Texas - Two Alpine Station Border Patrol agents were in the right place at the right time on July 23, when a Louisiana woman and three children got caught in the current of the Rio Grande near Lajitas.
The agents were patrolling in the area when they noticed a vehicle going back and forth on Highway 170. When agents approached the vehicle, the driver asked for their assistance in helping retrieve some family members from the river.
The four had entered the river upstream from Lajitas and were floating on swimming pool type flotation devices. The current in the river was stronger than they realized and they were floating rapidly downstream.
One of the agents removed his equipment belt and waded waist deep into the water while his partner provided support. The people on the float devices were holding onto each other. The agent was able to grab one of them and then pull all four to the bank.
None of the floaters were injured.