BP saves Mexican man from drowning at border canal
Two agents from the Border Patrol El Centro Sector risked their lives to save a 19-year-old Mexican man drowning in the All-American Canal.
BP Agent Jose Enriquez said, “They did risk their lives by entering into the canal. They’ve could’ve easily got caught in the current and they could’ve easily got hypothermia or worse. Our agents did what they had to do, they jumped in and they rescued that person.”
This happened on Monday evening around 6 p.m.
“Three subjects swam north in the All-American Canal about twelve miles east of the Calexico Port of Entry,” Enriquez said.
Agents arrested one man, the second one swam back, but the third one seemed to be drowning. Agents tried to help him.
“The smugglers on the south side were telling him, hey, no, ignore the border patrol come back this way,” Enriquez said.
Agents threw rescue discs at the man to help him, but the man seemed to be on the point of giving up.
“Once they saw that the subject in the water was in imminent danger, they took off their vests, they took off their duty belts and jumped in the water to save the individual,” Enriquez said.
They immediately gave him medical treatment.
“Anytime you’re dealing with any type of canal, especially during that time of day and this time of year, the canal water or any water is very cold. Those temperatures can reach twenties, thirties or even below that and hypothermia is dangerous and then on top of that you got the swift water that runs underneath the canal,” Enriquez said.
Both men will be legally processed and eventually sent back to Mexico.
Officials warn against trying to cross the border illegally.
“Anytime you put anybody at risk and danger, whether it be crossing through the mountains, the desert or the canals, you’re risking somebody’s life,” Enriquez said.
BP officials said this fiscal year there’s been 5 rescues and two deceased relating to people trying to cross illegally by use of the All-American Canal. That includes a woman rescued in the morning and a companion of hers who died in the crossing attempt.
