El Centro, Calif. - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector and Imperial County Sheriff's Office coordinated the rescue of two men who were stranded for days in the mountains west of El Centro.
On Monday, at approximately 4:28 p.m., El Centro Sector communications received a call from ICSO dispatch regarding the lost men. Dispatch stated that the men claimed they had been lost for two days and were without water. The men were able to describe terrain features and roads in the area.
Border Patrol agents were given the information and immediately conducted a search of the area described. ICSO maintained contact with the men and provided updates of their status. At approximately 5:37 p.m. a CBP Office of Air and Marine helicopter located the men. The men were located south of Highway 98 and west of Clark Road.
As part of the Border Patrol Border Safety Initiative all agents are certified as first responders and are trained to respond to a situation such as this one.
"The goal of BSI is to enhance public safety and humanitarian efforts by the United States Border Patrol" stated El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey A. Calhoon, "in this case, providing our agents with the proper tools and training prevented the loss of life." Chief Calhoon further stated, "The cooperation amongst law enforcement agencies is vital in keeping our community safe as illustrated here."
Agents transported both men to awaiting emergency personnel. Both men were transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.
At approximately 8:45 p.m. both men were discharged from ECRMC. They were treated for heat exhaustion.
It was determined that both men were Mexican citizens illegally present in the United States. They were transported to the El Centro Station for processing.