A daredevil 17-year-old got a brutal reality check Saturday when he tried to leap off San Diego’s famous Sunset Cliffs — and came up just short, smashing into the rocky ledge before plunging into the Pacific.
Shocking video circulating online shows the teen perched high on the sandstone bluff as a crowd of onlookers watches. He launches himself toward the ocean… only to slam hard against the protruding rock face. The impact sends him tumbling awkwardly into the churning water below amid gasps from the spectators.
San Diego Fire-Rescue and lifeguards raced to the scene near Sunset Cliffs Boulevard after the botched jump. Crews pulled the teen from the water and transported him to a hospital. His injuries remain unknown, though the violent collision left little doubt it was no soft landing.
At least six people jumped in after him to help before official rescuers arrived. Video later showed the teen conscious and sitting on a lower ledge surrounded by helpers.
Cliff jumping at the popular Point Loma spot is strictly illegal. San Diego Municipal Code bans jumping or diving into the Pacific Ocean (or Mission Bay) from any natural or man-made point more than five feet above the water. Officials regularly warn that the area’s hidden rock shelves, powerful currents, and unpredictable depths make it a recipe for disaster.
“Cliff jumping is not only extremely dangerous but also against the law in San Diego,” Fire-Rescue spokesperson Candace Hadley said. “We want locals and visitors to enjoy San Diego’s coastline safely. Please stay back from cliff edges, follow all posted warnings and never jump from cliffs or other elevated areas into the water.”
Sunset Cliffs has long been a magnet for thrill-seekers looking to go viral, despite repeated rescues and injuries. This time the internet got exactly what it wanted, a spectacular fail that left one teen lucky to be alive.
