A 17-year-old boy has sustained severe injuries, including six compression fractures to his vertebrae and a foot injury requiring nine stitches, after jumping from a cliff at San Diego's Sunset Cliffs.
The incident occurred when the teenager struck the side of the cliff during his jump before hitting the water. Bystanders intervened to keep him afloat until lifeguards and firefighters, utilizing a technical rope system, were able to rescue him. He was transported to a hospital.
The teen described the sensation as feeling paralyzed and burning. He expressed concern that a slightly different trajectory could have resulted in a fatal impact with the rocks. He is now using a walker as part of his recovery.
Despite the known dangers and the recent incident, the location continues to attract young people attempting similar jumps, some apparently for social media. Lifeguards have emphasized that jumping from heights over five feet is illegal under city ordinance. They also caution about the presence of submerged rocks and unpredictable tides.
Data from 2005 to 2017 indicates that Sunset Cliffs has been the site of 19 deaths and 49 serious injuries. The footage of the recent incident, which went viral, shows the moment of impact with the cliff face and the immediate assistance rendered by a bystander.
