Man Falls From Cliff Last Night, Rescued By Santa Cruz Firefighters

Firefighters rescued a person from the water in Santa Cruz late Wednesday night, a Santa Cruz Fire Department battalion chief said.

Fire crews responded to a report of a male who fell off the edge of a cliff and into the ocean at West Cliff Drive and Chico Avenue around 11:15 p.m., Battalion Chief Rob Young said.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the male was holding onto rocks a few feet above the water's edge, Young said.

Witnesses said he was able to swim to the rocks but could not climb out of the water, according to Young.

Two firefighters trained as rescue swimmers were able to descend down to the water.

A wave knocked the male off of the rocks and into the water, but the rescue swimmers secured him and swam him to a cove near Auburn Avenue, Young said.

Once the male was taken to the beach, firefighters used a basket to carry him up the cliff and onto West Cliff Drive, Young said.

The male was treated for hypothermia and was transported to Dominican Hospital, according to Young.

--Bay City News