Off-Duty Border Patrol Agent Helps Deliver Baby In San Diego Restroom

SAN DIEGO, CA — An off-duty Border Patrol agent helped deliver a baby over the weekend in a public restroom in San Diego.

Agent George Huertas, who is a member of the Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) Team in San Diego, helped safely deliver the boy Sunday morning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Friday.

"If you know George, you know he is too humble to bring this up for attention," said Michael E. McEwan, acting commander of San Diego BORSTAR. "He only told a group of us in passing during muster and downplayed the whole incident."

Huertas and his family had participated in the Miracle Babies Superhero 5K at NTC Park at Liberty Station. As they were packing up to leave, his sister informed him that a woman was giving birth in a nearby public restroom.

Huertas, a trained emergency medical technician, found the woman giving birth in one of the restroom stalls, authorities said. Using his EMT training and rubber gloves from a janitor, Huertas was able to stimulate the baby and initiate breathing. He wrapped the newborn in one of his sister's baby blankets. After cleaning the baby's face, he introduced the boy to his mother for the first time.

Huertas remained with the new mother until medical personnel arrived.

"George responds to those in need on and off duty," McEwan said. "He is a strong advocate for those under his care. He truly embodies what it means to be a BORSTAR agent and lives our moniker 'So Others May Live.'"