Santa Cruz water rescue turns treacherous for rescuers

A man was treated for hypothermia and other injuries Wednesday after falling off a cliff’s edge on West Cliff Drive and Chico Avenue during a walk.

Santa Cruz City Firefighters said the man was clinging onto the rocks a few feet above the edge of the water. Two rescue swimmers were able to climb down to the victim, but a wave knocked them off the rock and into the water.

The rescue swimmers had the victim secured with them fortunately and were able to swim him to the cove at Auburn Avenue and bring him onto the beach.

Firefighters used a stokes basket to carry the victim up the cliff. The victim was loaded into the ambulance and transported to Dominican Hospital.