Josh Law found himself harnessed and being lowered from a US Coast Guard helicopter into the tumultuous Pacific Ocean, shrouded in darkness far from the Mexican coastline.
The helicopter blades churned above him, creating chaos on the surface of the water. With waves crashing to heights of 6 to 8 feet, the Coast Guard rescue swimmer was almost entirely engulfed in noise and darkness, unable to see anything around him. The only thing he could focus on was the searchlight from the helicopter, hoping it would guide him to the more than two dozen individuals thrown into the frigid waters about 140 miles off the Baja California coast.
Ultimately, he personally saved 16 individuals.
“I felt utterly exhausted at that moment,” Law, 24, recounted in his first interview since the dramatic rescue.
“We didn’t get much sleep. But honestly, what I was going through was nothing compared to what they were experiencing … I had to keep that in focus.”
During the next two hours, in the early morning of October 16, Law remained the only person in the water who would successfully bring survivors from the capsized boat to safety.
Sadly, eleven others were not recovered.
Eventually, the Coast Guard called off its search on late Sunday.
Law described the intense operation that took place along a remote stretch known for migrant smuggling boats. The details surrounding the boat and its origin are currently under federal investigation.
It remains unclear whether the vessel got lost, suffered mechanical failure, or was intentionally far out to sea. Only fragments of the craft were located.
All those he rescued were confirmed to be Mexican nationals, according to the Mexican consulate.
The Coast Guard stated that US Customs and Border Protection is investigating and interviewing the survivors, but there hasn’t been a response to whether the boat was involved in smuggling.
The alarm jolted the Coast Guard team awake
The emergency call came in just after 1 a.m.
A report indicated that a boat was sinking somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, off Ensenada, Mexico.
In no time, the alarm at the US Coast Guard Air Station in Ventura, near Los Angeles, rang out, waking Law and his crew from their slumber.
Helicopter pilot Lt. Miyako Miller assessed the flying conditions and mapped a flight path leading the four-member team over the vast ocean heading south of the US-Mexico border.
Law equipped himself with a dry suit, fins, and medical supplies before securing a harness that would be used to lower him from the helicopter into the waves.
By approximately 2 a.m., they were airborne from the Ventura Coast Guard station.
The pilot navigated using the stars
With night vision goggles on, Miller piloted the helicopter through the darkness, relying on the stars since the moon was hidden that night.
As they neared the indicated location of the sinking vessel, she spotted a faint light flickering ahead.
Upon moving closer, she noticed what seemed to be debris floating, though it was challenging to identify its nature. Carefully maneuvering the helicopter, she lowered it to hover roughly 40 feet above the ocean’s surface.
“I focused on maintaining my bearings externally while looking through the night vision goggles,” Miller mentioned, with the flight mechanic helping her position the aircraft.
Approximately 250 miles southwest of Ensenada lies Guadalupe Island, known for its large population of great white sharks.
Law admitted he didn’t let himself think about what was lurking beneath the surface as he connected himself to a cable and dove into the ocean.
Time was of the essence. Even though his dry suit kept him somewhat warm, he was aware that the others had been in dangerously cold water for hours.
According to Law, the searchlight from the helicopter guided him towards the victims in the water.
They were dispersed over a wide area; some wore life vests equipped with tiny lights that had initially caught Miller’s eye. Others clung to each other, buoys, or floating debris, struggling to keep their heads above water.
Law swam to them, flipping them onto their backs, using the “buddy tow” technique to help lift them. He kicked hard to swim while keeping an arm around each survivor, signaling to the helicopter for assistance in lowering a basket for them.
“With one hand, I’m holding a survivor, and with the other, I’m signaling the helicopter while maneuvering the device,” he explained.
One by one, he placed survivors into the basket, which was then hoisted back up to the helicopter. The crew helped each person inside before the basket was lowered again.
As he repeatedly swam back and forth, Law’s dry suit began to fill with water, feeling heavy against him as he fought through the waves.
With fuel running low, they headed to San Diego
With the helicopter packed and fuel reserves diminishing, the crew made the decision to return to the Coast Guard station in San Diego, where ambulances were prepared.
During the flight, Law treated three individuals with severe injuries, acting quickly to control the bleeding. Some of these injuries appeared to be “consistent with shark bites,” prompting the Coast Guard to deliver life-saving care, as stated in a subsequent announcement.
Officers from Customs and Border Protection reported to a hospital, assuring that they would process the survivors per immigration regulations once they were medically cleared. Reports indicate that nearly half of those saved have since returned to Mexico.
By that morning, Law and his crew arrived back in Ventura, marking the most extensive rescue mission he had ever participated in.
The search for the eleven missing continued for two more days without success. The Coast Guard, alongside Mexican and US Navy support, scoured over 2,441 square miles for a total of 89 hours.
Amid concerns over increasing dangers, migrants are increasingly taking to perilous sea routes offered by smugglers, opting for small boats that commonly depart from Baja at night and venture hundreds of miles northward.
