SAN DIEGO (CNS/CBS 8) - Twenty-one suspected illegal immigrants were rescued from a remote beach in the Sunset Cliffs area Friday and turned over to border patrol agents, authorities said.
The Coast Guard was notified about a boat with people on it dead in the water just before 8 a.m., Petty Officer 1st Class Allyson Conroy said.
The federal maritime agency launched a helicopter and small rescue boat in response but later learned there was a miscommunication with a Good Samaritan who called authorities for help, according to Coast Guard Lt. Sean Groark.
The Good Samaritan came across the suspected illegal immigrants on the remote beach, along with their small white boat, Groark said, noting they were never in distress except for being stuck on the beach, which sits at the bottom of a steep cliff.
The Coast Guard, San Diego harbor police, San Diego lifeguards, state park police and the border patrol all responded.
Ultimately, San Diego lifeguards on jet skis gave rides to the suspected illegal immigrants and took them to a Coast Guard vessel, which then transported them to border patrol agents on land, Groark said.
No injuries were reported.
Suspected illegal immigrants rescued near Point Loma
There are reports out of Point Loma Friday morning that a possible migrant boat could be in distress.
