SAN DIEGO , CALIFORNIA — U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents in the San Diego Sector (SDC) had two life-saving rescue missions this weekend as summer temperatures climbed in East County.
The first rescue began Friday, at 4 p.m., when SDC’s Foreign Operations Branch received a call from Mexico government officials about a man lost on Otay Mountain. Members of SDC’s Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) team immediately deployed to the provided coordinates.
The team quickly found the man who was coughing up blood and struggling to breathe. Agents administered a metered-dose inhaler to assuage his symptoms. BORSTAR and SDC Strike Team agents then litter-carried the man off the mountain to a waiting ambulance. Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel took over and transported him to a nearby hospital where he was treated for severe hypertension and dehydration. The man was later identified as a 41-year-old Guatemalan who had illegally entered the U.S.
The second rescue occurred when agents encountered a man in the wilderness near Jamul Sunday, at about 7:45 a.m. The man was in an altered state of mind and going in and out of consciousness. Along with help from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, USBP agents carried the man to a waiting ambulance. EMS personnel quickly transported the man to an area hospital. He was later identified as a 27-year-old Honduran who had illegally entered the U.S.
“There is no safe way to cross the border illegally,” said U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke. “Thankfully, our robust search-and-rescue program, collaboration with foreign officials, and local partnerships continue to pay dividends and save lives.”
To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors entering, departing and along our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.