Skip to main content
Clear icon
64º

Coast Guard rescues 8 children on Rio Grande after raft deflates

Coast Guard rescues 8 on Rio Grande near McAllen, TXA 29-foot Response Boat–Small crew from Coast Guard Maritime Safety & Security Team Houston patrols the Rio Grande near McAllen, Texas, Feb. 14, 2024. When deployed to the Rio Grande, MSST Houston personnel primarily focus on conducting search and rescue. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Alejandro Rivera)

MCALLEN, Texas – A deflating raft on the Rio Grande River left eight children in trouble. Luckily, the United States Coast Guard was able to save the day.

A 29-foot response boat was patrolling the Rio Grande, when it encountered a group of non-citizens attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border on a raft. The raft featured one adult smuggler and eight children ranging between ages six and 13.

Recommended Videos



When the Coast Guard approached the floating vessel, the smuggler jumped off the raft and deflated it, before swimming back to the Mexican side of the river.

As the raft began to sink, the Coast Guard crew acted swiftly to rescue the children. No injuries were reported, and the children were safely brought to shore and transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.


About the Author
Michael Horton headshot

Michael is a Kingwood native who loves visiting local restaurants and overreacting to Houston sports. He joined the KPRC 2 family in the spring of 2024. He earned his B.A. from Texas A&M University in 2022 and his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023.

Loading...