After a May 15 incident at Sunset Cliffs, where two men had jumped from Osprey Point, were overcome by currents and rescued, and with heightened summer traffic of the cliff areas approaching, San Diego Lifeguards and Fire-Rescue personnel are gearing up for a busy season. Both men, aged 21 and 23-years-old, were injured and ended up on the reef. The were lifted from the area with a “cliff rescue rig” attached to a fire truck. “There was a rescue, with medical aid, but only resulted in minor injuries,” said Lt. Rich Stropky of San Diego Lifeguards. “Specific to the cliffs areas, instances where people are not paying attention (i.e. taking photos), climbing in unstable areas, surfers who are stuck on the rocks, strolling around during night hours, or those who jump on purpose are the main reason we are called out for a rescue.” While these idyllic aspects of this wonderful coastline are popular areas of exercise and leisure for both residents and tourists, as the most recent death and past fatalities indicate, they can prove extremely hazardous. Although this is no major revelation, it should be noted that a “cliffs rescue” can not only prove costly, but contains many moving parts to successfully help someone who is stranded to safety. In spite of some dispatch issues between the San Diego Fire-Rescue and Lifeguards, the fire department are first-responders during the nighttime while lifeguards carry the burden during the day. It should be noted that lifeguards help at night as well. There are emergency call boxes strategically placed near vantage points to directly alert lifeguards too. If a call box is initiated that warrants a rescue, or 911 is called, SDFR and/or Lifeguards will be sent out to conduct a risk assessment. If there is no injury, a fire engine and paramedic is called out to the scene. Once this risk assessment is completed, SDFR or Lifeguards devise their plan of action. Will responders be able to carry/use a winch to get someone out, or will an air lift be deemed necessary? “When we have enough information, we get a ’copter on the way until further notice,” Stropky explained. “One day, we rescued 10 people in Box Canyon. During this January and February, we conducted a lot of rescues, as well.”
Stropky also noted that every “permanent” lifeguard receives 40 hours of cliff rescue training – how to work the equipment, approaches, etc. – so everyone has the ability to respond to distress calls. The lifeguards take 16 hrs. “refresher courses” every year to stay ahead of the curve. The Peninsula Beacon asked both San Diego Lifeguards and Fire and Rescue as to how many fatalities have occurred in cliffs areas over the past 10 years, of which no data was readily available.
“I don’t know exactly how many fatalities or total rescues have occurred during that time period, but I do know that people should not go off trail, but often, by accident, people end up in the wrong spot,” Stropky added.