Cal Fire, Border Patrol rescue injured, hypothermic woman in backcountry

A Cal Fire crew and Border Patrol agents rescued a 34-year-old woman who was lost and injured in the Otay Mountain area Sunday, tending to her overnight in the cold until the weather allowed a helicopter to hoist her to safety, officials said Tuesday.

Border Patrol agents were alerted to the woman, later identified as a Mexican national who was not authorized to be in the U.S., after she called 911 about 9 p.m. Sunday. With the help of a sheriff ’s helicopter, agents on a search-and-rescue team and a Cal Fire crew trekked through “harsh” terrain to reach the woman, the Border Patrol said in a statement.

The woman had suffered injuries to her knee and hip after a 20foot fall. She was vomiting and was suffering from hypothermia because of “prolonged cold exposure,” the Border Patrol said.

The weather forced the sheriff ’s helicopter to clear the area soon after the woman was located.

After stabilizing the woman, the rescue team had to wait until the weather improved so a helicopter could fly in to complete the rescue. They relied on survival blankets to stay warm in what turned into an overnight rescue.

It wasn’t until about 10:20 a.m. Monday that the weather cleared the way for a helicopter crew to hoist the woman to an awaiting ambulance, the Border Patrol said.

The woman was then taken to a hospital for treatment. She remained hospitalized Tuesday.

“Collaboration saves lives,”

Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke, of Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector, said in a statement. “This rescue highlights the importance of teamwork amongst federal, state, and local agencies. I am extremely proud of all of the involved parties and their life-saving efforts.”