On a recent day, eleven individuals sustained injuries while attempting to scale the barrier that separates Mexico and the United States, resulting in falls on the San Diego side. These incidents mark the latest in a series of injuries following the heightened fortification of the wall aimed at discouraging illegal crossings.
Ten individuals, aged between 18 and the mid-40s, were transported to hospitals with varying degrees of injuries, as reported by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Additionally, one injured person did not require hospitalization.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department received notification from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday regarding the incidents.
Eleven Injured in Border Wall Climbing Attempts: Latest Incidents Highlight Risks in San Diego Region (Credits: FOX 5 San Diego)
Among those injured, four were admitted to Scripps Mercy Hospital, including three adults accompanied by five children, all below the age of 11, according to Chris Van Gorder, the president of Scripps Health, as stated in The San Diego Union-Tribune. The hospital offered childcare services for the children while their parents received medical attention.
Notably, recent days have seen the tragic death of a man, believed to be in his late 20s, in an attempt to circumvent the border wall.
Joseph Ciacci, a neurosurgeon at UC San Diego Health, highlighted a significant surge in trauma cases following the reinforcement of the border wall during the Trump administration. The replacement of sections with 30-foot steel bollard barriers, up from heights of less than 20 feet, has led to a fivefold increase in trauma cases, according to Ciacci.
In 2019, UC San Diego Health treated fewer than 60 patients who had fallen from border walls. However, this number escalated to nearly 450 cases within two years.
The Mexican consulate reported alarming statistics, with 29 Mexican nationals losing their lives in 2023 due to falls while attempting to cross into the San Diego region, while another 120 individuals suffered injuries.
