In a daring rescue on the Rio Grande, the U.S. Coast Guard pulled eight children to safety from a sinking raft near McAllen. The children, ranging in age from 6 to 13, were discovered Tuesday evening as part of a group attempting a treacherous river crossing, as reported by KSAT.

The rescue unfolded around 8:30 p.m. when a Maritime Safety and Security Team from Houston, on patrol, came upon an inflating raft with an adult and eight minors aboard. The adult, believed to be a potential smuggler, abandoned the vessel and sabotaged it by deflating the raft upon spotting the Coast Guard, then swam back towards the Mexican shore. This abrupt act left the vulnerable children adrift.

Facing an emergency, the Coast Guard crew acted swiftly to retrieve the children from the compromised transport as it began taking on water. Subsequently, the youngsters were delivered into the care of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to theExpress News. No harm came to any of the rescuees in the incident.

These operations are becoming an all too familiar scene on the border river, as Coast Guard boat crews often team up with CBP to execute search and rescue missions and help monitor undocumented migrant activity. The rapid response and rescue of the eight children underscores a persistent and perilous issue at the border, where vulnerable individuals frequently risk their lives in the pursuit of safer shores.