300-Pound Man Trapped in Tunnel Near Border

Firefighters in Otay Mesa struggled to free a 300-pound man stuck in a tunnel near the border on Tuesday afternoon.

Border Patrol agents came across the man at about 2 p.m. and called for assistance.

The 30-foot tunnel is located on the 2600 block of Britannia Blvd. in Otay Mesa, behind a Border Patrol gate.

Shortly after, firefighters arrived to the scene to determine the best way to remove the victim, who authorities say is a US Customs and Immigration Control employee.

The employee was being escorted through a cross-border training and demonstration tunnel when he fell in, sustaining minor injuries, according to ICE.

By about 2:45 p.m., firefighters successfully removed him from the tunnel. He was transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Smuggling tunnels are common in the area, although this tunnel was used strictly for training and demonstration, according to ICE.