Havre Sector Border Patrol agents assist in rescue near Malta

Press release

U.S. Border Patrol reported Wednesday that Border Patrol agents from Malta Station were notified of three hunters who were lost and stranded while navigating through a blizzard north of Malta.

Malta Station Border Patrol agents were contacted by the Phillips County Sheriff's Office requesting assistance in locating three hunters who were stranded in a remote area after their vehicle became stuck during a winter blizzard.

The sheriff's office dispatch reported that one of the individuals was an elderly man who would be unable to walk through the blizzard conditions. 

U.S. Border Patrol was equipped with a tracked utility terrain vehicle capable of reaching the area in adverse conditions.

Malta Station agents, utilizing the UTV, traveled to the GPS coordinates, which were provided by the hunters through Phillips County Sheriff's Office dispatch. The agents attempted to assist in freeing the hunter's vehicle but were unsuccessful in their attempts. 

The area had experienced significant snowfall during the storm and some drifts were well more than four feet in height.  The agents transported the hunters back to a safe location in Malta after many hours of slow travel. 

"Agents are trained to perform their duties in strenuous weather conditions and are equipped with the resources to accomplish the mission," Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Scott Good said. "This situation could have ended tragically had it not been for the solid partnership between our agents and the Phillips County Sheriff's Office. I am proud of our agents and their rescue efforts in these harsh climates."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Individuals can report suspicious activity to Border Patrol by calling 800-BE-ALERT or 800-232-5378. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.