Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced it assisted in rescuing two American desert hikers who were stranded in remote areas of southern Arizona in separate incidents over the weekend.
On April 12 a hiker was stranded near the Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix, reporting a potential broken ankle, according to a statement.
Tucson sector Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents and Pinal County Air 1 crew located the injured hiker from the air, said CBP Arizona public affairs specialist John B. Mennell.
After a BORSTAR agent was lowered to the ground, the hiker was hoisted up with the agent into the Pinal County helicopter.
“Once somebody’s life is in danger, it doesn’t matter if they’re an illegal alien or if they are a United States citizen,” Mennell told NTD. “We are going to turn our assets towards getting that person out of the position they’re in.”
The hiker was subsequently taken to a landing zone to be treated by local emergency medical services.
