A U.S. Coast Guard operation led to the interception of a vessel carrying 21 suspected undocumented migrants near San Clemente Island.
The incident unfolded around noon on July 31, when the Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles–Long Beach received reports of a suspicious watercraft approximately 14 miles west of San Clemente Island.
Officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations division were dispatched to locate the vessel and subsequently conducted a boarding operation.
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Upon boarding, officials confirmed the presence of 21 people aboard and a Coast Guard station crew was called to the scene to provide additional support.
During the operation, responders discovered a 56-year-old man unresponsive and immediately administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Ventura was deployed to facilitate a medical evacuation.
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The man was airlifted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, with rescue personnel continuing CPR throughout the flight.
Although hospital staff were able to temporarily restore a pulse, the patient was later pronounced dead.
The remaining 20 individuals on board were taken into custody and transferred to U.S. Border Patrol officials for further processing.
