Border Patrol agents rescue two individuals in separate East County incidents

SAN DIEGO — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Diego Sector rescued two individuals in separate incidents in the East County mountains, where extreme terrain and high temperatures created life-threatening conditions. On Aug. 1 at 3 p.m., agents from the Boulevard Station received notification from local law enforcement regarding an individual lost in the Jacumba Mountains with little to no water. The individual experienced symptoms consistent with heat exhaustion, including disorientation and blurred vision. With temperatures reaching approximately 107 degrees Fahrenheit, Boulevard Station agents coordinated with El Centro Sector agents to search the remote, rugged area. Agents gathered heat stress supplies, water and ice before entering the terrain to locate the individual. Agents located the individual and provided basic medical aid. After requesting air support, local emergency services responded. Rescuers airlifted the individual to the Jacumba Interchange, where an ambulance transported the person to a hospital for treatment of heat-related injuries. In a separate incident on July 26 at 7 p.m., an agent operating surveillance equipment observed a person walking near Cottonwood Canyon. Agents responded to the area and encountered the individual at 7:41 p.m. Agents determined the individual was in poor physical condition and unable to walk out of the canyon without assistance. Emergency medical services responded to assist agents in carrying the individual out of the canyon. An ambulance transported the individual to a local hospital for further medical evaluation. “These rescues are a reminder of the extreme dangers posed by the rugged terrain and intense summer heat. It is also a stark reminder that criminal cartels who smuggle humans do not care about safety or the lives of those they exploit,” said Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre. “Our agents train for these situations and routinely work with our state and local partner agencies to save lives.” Agents determined both subjects were illegally present in the United States and will process them for removal upon medical clearance. Both rescues were preventable. President Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin urge illegal aliens not to make the dangerous trek to the United States. The U.S. Border Patrol urges anyone in distress to call 911 immediately. Extreme heat, limited water, and remote terrain can quickly become life-threatening. To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from the nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact the San Diego Sector at 619-498-9900.