Honduran Teen Trying to Cross U.S.-Mexico Border to Reunite With His Mom in Texas Drowns in Rio Grande River

Honduran teen Cristopher Alvarado Sabillon was trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border with his two cousins and sister to reunite with his mother in Texas.

However, the 14-year-old drowned while crossing the Rio Grande River that divides Mexico's city of Piedras Negras with Eagle Pass in Texas on Saturday night, NBC News reported.

His family said the teen embarked on a trek from Honduras to the U.S.-Mexico border with his two cousins and sister, who are all minors.

Alvarado Sabillon's sister reached her hand out toward her brother as she tried to help him through the strong currents, but she was never able to hold on to her brother.

The 16-year-old girl said it was dark, and she could barely see anything, so she started yelling out her brother's name, but she never got an answer.

According to the family, Alvarado Sabillon's sister and her cousins are currently in the custody of Health and Human Services.

Honduran Teen Drowns in Rio Grande River

Border Patrol agents had started searching for the Honduran teen after learning that he went missing while trying to cross the Rio Grande River.

Cristopher Alvarado Sabillon's mom, Roxana Sabillon, received a photo confirming her son's death four days later. The teen's body was reportedly found floating on the Mexican side of the river.

"They took half my life. They took it from me. All I have left now is to stand by a wooden box to give him his last goodbye. And that hug I didn't give him," Roxana told Noticias Telemundo.

Roxana immigrated to the U.S. in 2016 and left her two children with their grandparents in Honduras. She said it was likely that years of widespread crime and gang activity may have pushed her children to cross the border with their cousins without her knowledge.

More People Drowned While Trying to Cross U.S.-Mexico Border

Ten more people drowned while trying to cross the river in the same place during the four days that the Honduran teen was missing. Border patrol agents said Wednesday that they had rescued 12 people who were also being swept away by the river's fast current.

Last October, federal officials noted that one woman drowned, and 13 people were pulled from the water after up to 70 people tried to illegally enter the U.S. from Tijuana by swimming around the barrier at Border Field State Park in San Diego, according to USA Today.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said border patrol agents found the woman unresponsive after being notified that immigrants were trying to swim.

The CBP noted the agents performed CPR and brought in an emergency medical services team, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Coast Guard then managed to rescue 13 people from the water. The Border Patrol, Coast Guard, San Diego fire crews, and California State Parks officers searched the area and took 36 Mexican nationals into custody, including 25 men and 11 women.

Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke of the Border Patrol's San Diego Sector said at that time that it was "another example of the ruthless tactics smuggling organizations use to bolster their power and profits."

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Six Migrant Children Rescued From The Rio Grande In Border Crossing Attempt - From NBC News