The migrant, a 26-year old male citizen of Mexico, suffered severe multiple injuries after falling into the deep shaft before dawn. The word of his fall reached the Border Patrol after a group of migrants approached National Guard soldiers at a surveillance site and told them about the accident. National Guard team members then notified Border Patrol agents, who then summoned the El Paso Sector BORSTAR team. Once BORSTAR arrived to the scene, two members were lowered into the cavern. Weather conditions challenged the team members during the ordeal—sub-freezing temperatures, falling snow, and freezing rain.

Photo Credit: James R. Tourtellotte

BORSTAR team members transport an injured person to a vehicle.

Once the BORSTAR team reached the injured man, they began treating him and stabilized his injuries. He had a concussion, multiple spinal/neck injuries and suspected fractures, a broken left wrist, lacerations on his head, severe bruising, and was suffering from hypothermia. The man was conscious when he was raised vertically from the deep hole using a rope and pulley system. The man was extracted from the shaft at about 8:30 a.m. and immediately turned over to emergency medical technicians, who were waiting at the scene. The man was transported to Mimbres Memorial Hospital in Deming for further treatment. Due to the extent of the injuries, he was then flown to Thomason Hospital in El Paso.

“This is a prime example of the value in having agents who are highly trained in desert and mountain rescue and advanced medical response,” El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert W. Gilbert said. “In this case, their training was probably the difference between life and death for this individual,” he added. DB

About BORSTAR The national BORSTAR team was formulated in 1998, in direct response to the escalating number of migrant injuries, deaths and violence being perpetrated by smuggling organizations along the U.S./Mexico border. Each Border Patrol sector has a BORSTAR unit that consists of specially trained Border Patrol agents who perform high and low angle rescues; emergency medical response; desert and mountain rescue; air operations and swift water rescue. All BORSTAR team members have advanced medical training ranging from EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) status to Paramedic.