An immigrant falls into a well on the border and is trapped "with a snake in front of her"

María Cruz, an immigrant from Ecuador who recently managed to enter the United States and was seeking to reunite with her husband in New York,

still faced an unforeseeable threat to her life

when she had already crossed the border. 

The woman was in the early hours of Friday near the town of Hebbronville, in southern Texas, when she suddenly fell into

a well about 50 feet

(about 15 meters) high. 

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She was trapped there for hours, according to her husband, Néstor Miguel Rojas, told local station Telemundo 40, owned by our company.

Finally, Cruz managed to alert 911 that he couldn't get out of there. 

Border Patrol agents and Hebbronville firefighters found her alive on Friday morning, according to a statement from Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

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He was seriously injured in the leg and in the back

, adds the note.

Rescuers pulled her out of the well and transported her by helicopter to a hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

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Rojas said that his wife's experience was dramatic

.

Before calling 911 for help, the woman called him on the phone.

"She knew how to tell me that she was scared, I think someone was following her, and she did not notice the cistern or well that was there and fell," said the man.  

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"She told me that she couldn't move because she couldn't feel her legs and that she was quite scared because a snake was in front of her," he added.

In a photo released by CBP itself, what appears to be a snake can be seen, although the agency's statement does not mention the reptile's presence in the hole.  

Fortunately, the animal did not bite her

, according to Telemundo 40. 

CBP reported that Cruz is now in federal custody due to his irregular immigrant status in the country, and that he reported his situation to the consular authorities of Ecuador. 

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They told Telemundo 40 that they are aware of the case and are collaborating with the US immigration agency to manage it, as well as that they would contact Rojas to provide advice.

He, for his part, said that he feels anguish for the future of his wife.

"

I don't know what will happen to her," he

admitted. 

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The man added that he hopes Cruz can stay in the country "at least until he recovers" and that he fears for his physical condition.

"I don't know if he will be able to walk again, I don't know," he

added. 

Matthew J. Hudak, head of the Laredo, Texas Border Patrol, said he was "proud" of his agents' rescue work.

"This incident highlights the deadly dangers that migrants can face when trying to enter the United States illegally, AND a reminder of why it is safer to stay home and not undertake this dangerous journey," he added.

With information from Telemundo 40.