NIAGARA FALLS – A 38-year-old Czech citizen was rescued by boaters in the lower Niagara River when he tried to swim into the United States from Canada.
The boaters had spotted the man — later identified as Jindrich Koudelka — in the river April 30, clinging to a log. The boaters took the subject to the boat ramp where they were met by Lewiston Police officers. Koudelka was taken by ambulance to Mount Saint Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston.
U.S. Border Patrol agents met Koudelka at the hospital and determined that he did not speak English. With the assistance of an interpreter, he said he attempted to enter the U.S. illegally by attempting to swim from Canada across the Lower Niagara River near Lewiston.
“Securing the border in this area calls for teamwork with citizens and law enforcement agencies,” said Deputy Patrol Agent In Charge Jeff Wilson. “This is an outstanding example of that kind of teamwork.”
At the time of Koudelka’s encounter with Lewiston Police, he was unaccompanied. The subject was treated and released from the hospital, detained, and transported to Niagara Falls Border Patrol Station for processing and investigation.
