Swimmer rescued in failed border-crossing attempt

By Karen Kucher, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 7:03 p.m.

CALEXICO — A 27-year-old Mexican national was rescued Tuesday as he was trying to enter the United States illegally by swimming across the All-American Canal about three miles west of the Calexico port of entry, officials said.

The man was spotted about 10:30 a.m. by the operator of a video-surveillance camera system. He was swimming with two other people across the canal.

U.S. Border Patrol agents who responded to the report said two of the men swam toward the south bank and fled into Mexico, but the third swimmer appeared to be struggling in the water.

An agent got a flotation device attached to a rope out of his vehicle and pulled the man to safety. He was determined to be uninjured and was transported to the El Centro Border Patrol station for processing, officials said.

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