Border Patrol rescues cyclist who fell more than 50 feet into canyon near San Diego
Responders stabilized the injured rider and airlifted him to a hospital; authorities recovered the bike the following day.
CHULA VISTA, Calif. — San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents rescued a cyclist who fell more than 50 feet into the bottom of a remote canyon near Otay Lakes County Park on Saturday, authorities said. The rider sustained multiple serious injuries and could not move for hours before responders reached him.
Agents working near the Sweetwater Dam heard cries for help and located the cyclist in the canyon below. A Border Patrol body camera video shows one agent asking, "I see you have your helmet on, sir. Are you aware if you lost consciousness at all?" The cyclist replied, "No." The man was bleeding heavily from both legs. Initial responders, including a Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technician, arrived to stabilize the injured subject, CBP said. The cyclist then told investigators that he had lost his footing while walking his bike along a trail on the canyon wall, falling more than 50 feet into the bottom.
Additional agents, including a Border Patrol EMT, worked to stabilize the cyclist before a San Diego Fire-Rescue helicopter arrived to airlift him to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.
The next day, Border Patrol agents returned to the canyon to recover the cyclist’s bicycle and other personal belongings, returning them to his wife. CBP noted that officers retrieved the items to help ensure the rider’s family could reunite with his gear.
"There is no doubt in my mind that these agents saved this man’s life," said Jeffrey Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent for the San Diego Sector, in a statement releasing details of the rescue.
CBP underscored that, to prevent the illicit smuggling of people, drugs and other contraband, the agency maintains a high level of vigilance along corridors of egress away from the United States’ borders. The agency said the rescue demonstrated the ongoing readiness of its personnel and cooperation with local responders during emergencies on rugged terrain.
Officials cautioned that remote canyon trails in the area can pose significant hazards, and responders emphasized the importance of rapid, coordinated action when someone is injured and unable to move. The cyclist’s name and current condition were not provided in the release, and hospital status was not disclosed.
In a separate image from the scene, CBP personnel are shown evaluating the area and coordinating with air-rescue crews, illustrating the combined effort that allowed responders to reach a patient in difficult terrain.
