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Rescue crews have freed a man who became trapped in a narrow tunnel under rocks on Sunset Cliffs in San Diego County after a challenging 20-hour rescue mission.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department received a call from someone near Cable and Orchard streets who spotted the man trapped in the hole on the cliffs at 3:43 p.m. on Thursday. SDFD lifeguards found the man, who was conscious and speaking but unable to get out of the small space himself.
It was unclear how long the man was stuck. SDFD say the man tunneled in an attempt to create shelter, but during that time, he slid further down and became wedged under a rock in the bottom of a tunnel about 15 to 20 feet into the hillside, SDFD Battalion Chief Craig Newell said.
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"The gentleman is trapped in a very narrow space about 12 inches wide, between a sea wall and a cliff that's eroded and created a tunnel," Newell told NBC 7.
The man entered the tunnel feet first and was trapped up to his waist in debris and heavy rocks, Newell said. Rescuers were able to free him a bit and lift him, but his feet were still stuck.
"We had a rescuer tunnel in last night from below and was able to reach his feet and started drilling the rocks beneath his feet, but the tide started to come in, and we had to pull him [the rescuer] out for safety," Newell said.
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SDFD said the lightning and downpours from the storm that hit San Diego County overnight also made things difficult.
Before rescuers paused operations and waited for the tide to lower, they covered the hole and gave heat packs, IV fluids and drinks to the trapped man to keep him warm and hydrated. He was not provided food since crews were not sure of his injuries, SDFD said.
"The patient did lose consciousness during the night but firefighters continued to monitor him and try to keep him warm," SDFD said in a Facebook post Friday afternoon.
An engine company was there all night with him.
An SDFD technical rescue team, Chula Vista Fire Department crews, the County of San Diego USAR team and members of the San Diego Police Department were working to free the man. SDFD also called a team from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, who are experts in cave rescues, to assist.
That cave team arrived early Friday morning and used materials to split the large rocks, making it easier for firefighters to break up rocks and remove them. The pressure on the man's legs made their task difficult.
They were able to free him by 11 a.m. Friday. Rescuers, using a rope-and-pulley system, hoisted the man via a stretcher onto the bluffs above the sea cliffs.
At the time of the extrication, the man was awake and thanked the rescuers, according to SDFD. He was transferred to an ambulance that took him to the hospital.
The unidentified man was believed to have minor injuries, SDFD said. SDFD will not release the man's identity.
SDFD said the man told them he had been screaming for days and are not exactly sure how he ended up in a hole or how long he was down there.
