Customs and Border Protection agents rescue 15 lost Guatemalans

14 undocumented Guatemalan immigrants are alive today thanks to the sharp eyes and quick reaction of members of the Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine operations.

A CBO Air and Marine helicopter spotted the group of 15 Guatemalans in the mountains near Marfa Friday morning.

The group had been lost in the area for a week.

The pilot, Derek Richardson, is also an Emergency Medical technician and began assessing and treating the women and men at the scene once he landed near the lost persons.

Richardson determined they were all in various states of distress and hypothermia

One of the victims died at the scene, the others were taken to area hospitals by additional Border Patrol agents who were sent to the scene and assisted in the rescue.

All individuals were determined to be undocumented immigrants from Guatemala who had been lost and walking through the desert for approximately a week.

The Big Bend area fell under an unexpected winter storm on Wednesday.