Arizona Border Patrol Agents Save Two American Hikers in the Desert
Agents from Customs and Border Protection collaborated with the sheriff’s offices of Santa Cruz County and Pinal County to assist two American hikers in distress.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that it played a vital role in the rescue of two American hikers stranded in isolated regions of southern Arizona during separate incidents over the weekend.
Agents from the Tucson sector’s Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) and the Pinal County Air 1 crew successfully located the injured hiker from the air, as stated by CBP Arizona public affairs specialist John B. Mennell.
Following the air reconnaissance, a BORSTAR agent was lowered to the ground to assist the hiker, who was then airlifted into the Pinal County helicopter.
“When someone’s life is in jeopardy, it’s irrelevant whether they are an illegal immigrant or a U.S. citizen,” Mennell explained to NTD. “We will deploy our resources to ensure that person’s safety.”
The injured hiker was later taken to a designated landing area for treatment by local emergency medical services.
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As of press time, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office had not yet responded to inquiries, and the injured hiker’s identity remains undisclosed.
The Superstition Mountains are characterized by intense heat, rugged terrain, and their location near the Superstition Wilderness adjacent to Gold Canyon.
The second hiker, a male who had been lost for two days near Pauline Ridge along the Arizona Trail—which spans roughly 800 miles throughout the state from the U.S.-Mexico border to Utah—was also rescued.
According to CBP officials, agents from the Sonoita Border Patrol Station acted on a request from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office on April 13.
A helicopter from CBP’s air and marine operations was able to locate the missing hiker; however, Mennell pointed out that the steep terrain and thick vegetation impeded the aircraft from landing.
Consequently, agents had to conduct a ground rescue, and the hiker was taken to the Sonoita-Elgin Fire Department for evaluation and care.
“They located him on the path,” Mennell added. “The area is very hilly and heavily forested, which limited our ability to land.”
Neither the Sonoita-Elgin Fire Department nor the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has provided a response to inquiries for comment.
