Copter Plucks Navy Climber From Cliff in Daring Rescue

A Navy commando who fell off a Mission Trails County Park cliff Monday to a rock embankment 25 feet below was rescued by San Diego Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department crews, who scaled the cliff and maneuvered a helicopter dangerously close to the outcropping to get to the injured climber.

The 25-year-old member of the Navy Sea, Air and Land tactical team, whom authorities would not identify, suffered a concussion, broken ribs and a pelvic injury. He was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in good condition late Monday.

As many as a dozen members of the Navy SEAL team were drilling and had been free-scaling a 200-foot sheer face of the cliff, above Father Junipero Serra Trail, without safety ropes Monday afternoon when the man lost his footing and fell, said Rick Foehr, a supervisor with Hartson Ambulance Service in San Diego.

Rescue crews climbed up steep, winding trails to reach the man, who had fallen onto a large rock embankment jutting from the cliff, and found him conscious.

But the crews, fearing the steep trails, called for the Sheriff’s Department helicopter to transport him out, Foehr said.

Pilot Bill Hubbard maneuvered close enough to rest one skid of the helicopter on the embankment, and rescue crews moved the man inside the copter.

“It went real smooth. It was real good teamwork between all the agencies involved,� Foehr said. “It looks like we definitely saved a life.�