Several Hyperthermic Illegal Immigrants Rescued, But One Dies

Earlier this week, Border Patrol agents and rangers began tracking a group of illegal immigrants who had crossed the border into the park near Boquillas on or before June 9th. On June 10th, Presidio County received a 911 call from a member of the group, reporting that they were in trouble and giving their location. Unfortunately, they were actually about 70 miles south of where they thought they were. Searchers therefore began looking for them in the wrong place. Meanwhile, a visitor reported an encounter with a suspected illegal immigrant near Dug Out Wells; that person reported that members of his group were having trouble and needed water. The responding ranger reported that several members of the group were suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Rangers and Border Patrol agents responded and began assisting people to the road. Two who were in critical condition were treated for heat stroke and flown by medical helicopters to hospitals in Odessa and Fort Stockton. A twelve-year-old boy with a head laceration was taken by ambulance to Alpine. Interviews with other members of the group revealed that one of the party had been left in the desert. Agents immediately began tracking the group’s route in an effort to find him, with two helicopters searching by air. One of the pilots spotted the man’s body about a mile-and-a-half east of Dug Out Wells. The temperature was reported at 111 degrees when the Border Patrol began tracking the group. The rapid intervention by park medics and Border Patrol EMT's with IV fluids and treatment for heat stroke, coupled with the air evacuation of the victims, likely prevented further deaths.  All those transported are expected to fully recover.  Concurrent with this incident, the park received a report of a 62-year-old man suffering from heat exhaustion on the Ore Terminal trail.  A ranger responded with a horse and helped him to the parking area. He did not require medical transport.