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Nigerians rescued from cold near Portal

PORTAL – Five Nigerians, including three children, received emergency medical treatment for injuries sustained from bitter cold after Burke County Sheriff’s Department and Border Patrol agents rescued them from a field near Portal Friday.

According to the Border Patrol, the sheriff’s department requested the aid of its Grand Forks Sector agents during the early morning hours on Friday. Emergency responders had spotted lights about two miles west of Portal, but their equipment was unable to reach the location because of rough terrain and impassable roads.

Border Patrol agents deployed service snowmobiles and found two adults and three young children who appeared to be in distress after being exposed to the extreme cold.  All five people were immediately transported to on-scene Emergency Medical Services personnel for evaluation and later transported to the Kenmare Hospital for initial treatment.

The youngest child, about 14 months old, was subsequently flown via helicopter to Trinity Hospital in Minot for advanced emergency treatment. The remaining individuals were transported to Trinity Hospital by ground ambulance.

It was later determined that all five people are Nigerian citizens legally present in the United States.

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