San Francisco fire crews rescue woman clinging to cliff above crashing waves

san francisco — San Francisco firefighters rescued a woman Wednesday who fell over a cliff and got stuck on rocks as waves crashed below.

It was not immediately known how the unidentified woman ended up clinging to the rocks next to the Cliff House, a well-known landmark located above Ocean Beach on the city’s northwest side. The area is very popular with locals and tourists who enjoy hiking near the Lands End lookout overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The San Francisco Fire Department said in a statement that the woman fell over the cliff and became stuck in the rocks. They did not immediately provide further details. She was wearing a bikini and no shoes.

Television news helicopters captured the dramatic scene as the woman was clinging to rocks as ocean waves rolled down and a firefighter climbed towards her after landing on the rocks. The rescuer reached the woman and tied her with ropes and a helmet before beginning to move her towards the road.

Minutes later, she was safely over the cliff and in an ambulance headed to the hospital.

The Cliff House building is owned by the National Park Service. A restaurant inside the building has been closed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.