Migrant children between 6 and 13 years old rescued from sinking raft, Coast Guard says

Eight migrant children between the ages of 6 and 13 were rescued as they attempted to cross the Rio Grande river on the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, officials said.

The U.S. Coast Guard was patrolling the area, which is commonly used by migrants looking to cross into the United States, around 8:30 p.m. on April 23, according to an April 26 news release.

The crew noticed a raft with one adult and eight children in the river. As they approached the raft, the adult “jumped overboard” and “deflated the raft,” officials said.

The coast guard said the adult was a “potential smuggler,” according to the release.

The adult swam back to Mexico’s side of the river, the Coast Guard said, but the children started to sink in the raft.

Crew members rescued the children and brought them to the shore near McAllen, according to the release. No one was injured.

They were transferred to U.S. Customs and Border protection, officials said.

McAllen is about a 240-mile drive south of San Antonio.