Illegal Immigrants Rescued in Calif.

Jun 06, 2002 11:17 AM EDT

OCOTILLO, Calif. (AP) - Ten illegal immigrants were rescued along a rugged mountain trail near the Mexico border and hospitalized for dehydration.

The 10 immigrants, who had endured temperatures as high as 108 degrees, were among 43 found Wednesday by the Border Patrol near Ocotillo, about 70 miles east of San Diego, Border Patrol agent Manuel Figueroa said.

One man suffering from severe dehydration was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Yuma, Ariz., Figueroa said.

Dozens of immigrants died last year from heat exposure in the deserts of Southern California and Arizona, where they illegally crossed into the United States to avoid increased patrols in urban areas.