A 17-year-old sustained critical injuries after an incident involving cliff jumping near Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in San Diego on July 26. The teenager was recorded jumping from a cliff and hitting its side before plunging into the ocean.
Emergency services were alerted around 4:27 p.m. on July 26. A witness was observed entering the water to assist the injured teen. San Diego Fire-Rescue personnel utilized a technical rescue rig to extract the individual from the water, and he was transported to a local hospital by 5:16 p.m. At the time of transport, the teen was conscious and breathing, though the extent of his injuries remains undisclosed.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Public Information Officer Candace Hadley stated that cliff jumping is illegal in the city, citing Municipal Code provisions that prohibit jumping or diving into the Pacific Ocean or Mission Bay from points higher than five feet above the water. "It's not only extremely dangerous, but also against the law in San Diego," Hadley said.
Officials noted that warnings are posted along the coastline, urging the public to avoid elevated edges. "We really want folks to enjoy our coastline, but we want them to do it safely and to just avoid that," Hadley added. Despite the dangers and legal restrictions, Sunset Cliffs remains a popular location for cliff jumping, particularly during summer months.
From 2005 to 2017, reports indicate that 19 deaths and 49 serious injuries occurred at Sunset Cliffs and its surrounding waters. The identity of the injured teenager has not been released.