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Border Patrol Agents and Air and Marine Operations Air Crew Rescue Injured Woman

Release Date
Thu, 12/20/2018

OTAY MESA, Calif. — Border Patrol agents and Air and Marine Operations agents rescued a seriously injured woman in the Otay Mountain Wilderness east of San Diego early Wednesday.

On Dec. 19th, at around 5:30 a.m., Border Patrol agents apprehended a man from Honduras who was crossed into the United States illegally in the Otay Mountain Wilderness.  The man informed agents that he was traveling with a woman who fell down into a steep canyon hours before he was arrested.  The man said he had climbed down to her location and said she was conscious, but appeared to be in bad condition.

Agents render aid to a woman who fell into a rocky canyon resulting in serious injuries
Agents render aid to a woman
who was seriously injured after
a fall into a rocky canyon.

Border Patrol agents immediately initiated a search for the woman.  Due to the difficult rocky terrain, dense brush, and the large area to be searched, agents contacted CBP Air and Marine Operations  (AMO) to also conduct a search from the air.  San Diego Sector’s Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Team (BORSTAR) was also called to assist with the search. 

AMO dispatched a Pilatus PC-12 fixed wing aircraft and an AS350 A-Star helicopter to help with the search.  At approximately 9 a.m., AMO A-Star pilots located the injured woman from the air and guided agents on the ground to her location.  BORSTAR agents also responded to the location. Agents reported that the woman was going in and out of consciousness. BORSTAR agents immediately rendered aid and requested an air hoist rescue from a separate AMO UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. 

At around 10:06 a.m., AMO airlifted the injured woman out of the canyon and transferred her to Brown Field Airport where they were met by a waiting ambulance.  She was transported to a local area hospital for evaluation and treatment.  The woman suffered from multiple traumatic injuries.

San Diego Director of Air and Marine Operations Hunter Davis said, “If not for the quick response by Border Patrol agents and the skillful air search and helicopter hoist extraction by Air and Marine Operations agents of this seriously injured woman, she would have perished on this mountain.”

Agents determined the woman is a 31-year-old Honduran national who had illegally crossed into the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021