Man with Disability Rescued from Floodwaters in Juarez
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – In the early hours of Thursday, June 4, emergency services in Ciudad Juarez successfully rescued a physically disabled man who was swept away by floodwaters and became trapped in a dike. The operation involved elements of the Municipal Public Security Secretariat, the Fire Department, and Civil Protection.
The incident was reported to the 911 emergency number around midnight, concerning a person in danger at the intersection of Eje Vial Juan Gabriel and Boulevard Zaragoza, in the La Presa neighborhood. Upon arrival, municipal agents located a man calling for help in the middle of the watercourse. Initial rescue attempts were hampered by the strong current, which made ground access unsafe.
Authorities confirmed that the victim, a 39-year-old man, has a physical disability, specifically the absence of his lower left limb, which severely limited his mobility and prevented him from reaching safety on his own. Firefighters and Civil Protection personnel subsequently arrived at the scene and used a boat to carry out the rescue, successfully bringing the man to safety.
The rescued man stated that he is homeless and usually sleeps under a bridge in the canal area, where he was caught by the rising water and unable to escape in time. Following the rescue, he was attended to by Civil Protection medical personnel, who detected initial symptoms of hypothermia. He was then transported to the General Hospital to receive specialized medical attention.
The Municipal Public Security Secretariat reiterated its call to citizens to avoid staying in or crossing streams, canals, dikes, and other high-risk areas during rainy weather, in order to prevent life-threatening situations.
This incident highlights the dangers posed by floodwaters, especially for vulnerable individuals, and underscores the importance of public awareness and rapid emergency response.
