Two U.S. citizens were airlifted Monday afternoon to a Tucson hospital after suffering severe heat-related distress near Montana Peak in Santa Cruz County.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman says the medical emergency was first reported to Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, which then reached out to the U.S. Border Patrol – Tucson Sector shortly after 1 p.m.
One person was reported as falling in and out of consciousness while the second person was suffering from extreme heat stress, according to CBP spokesman John Monnell.
USBP agents responded to the general area which is about 30 miles southwest of Green Valley and 15 miles southeast of Arivaca. They then had to walk up the 5,300-foot Montana Peak with temperatures quickly rising to 100 degrees.
Additional agents also began a response with emergency medical equipment, while a request was called in to the Arizona Air Coordination Center for additional support.
Upon reaching the scene just before 3 p.m., USBP agents encountered an adult man and adult female in medical distress. The agents recognized the critical nature of the situation and began field expedient cooling measures which included using the agents’ own water to cool down the pair.
A USBP Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) also started intravenous fluid therapy while waiting for a medical air evacuation. Limited shade was provided by using a small tarp belonging to one of the agents.
A UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew from CBP’s Air & Marine Operations – Tucson Air Branch on the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base arrived on scene around 3:45 p.m. Due to the rugged terrain and lack of a safe landing spot, an Air and Marine Rescue Specialist EMT and a Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) paramedic were lowered to the scene by the helicopter’s hoist device to assess the two patients.
It was decided that a hoist rescue was necessary, so the man and woman were prepped for transport and then hoisted up to the waiting helicopter. Due to the
fragile condition of the two, the emergency medical professionals and aircrew flew directly to Banner University Medical Center for further medical treatment and evaluation.
No further update on their condition has been provided.
Jose Muriente, Deputy Director of CBP’s Air & Marine Operations – Tucson Air Branch noted the two people who fell ill were able to recognize the seriousness of the situation and call for help.
“During the hot summer months people in the deserts of southern Arizona can quickly succumb to the heat,” Muriente said. “All too often, people wait too long to call for help.”
USBP-Tucson Sector Chief John Modlin praised the efforts of all involved in Monday’s dangerous rescue.
“CBP’s Border Patrol and Air and Marine agents operate daily in the extreme terrain and excessive heat conditions so common in southern Arizona; often with minimal regard for their own safety and well-being,” said Modlin. “Border Patrol agents will literally give up the own water off their backs to save a life knowing they still have to hike out of the remote terrain in 100 plus degree heat.”