A 19-year-old male was rescued from a rock pool in Malibu Creek State Park on Monday after he apparently jumped off a cliff and into a rock pool, losing consciousness.
The Malibu Search and Rescue Team answered the call at approximately 12:35 p.m., according to team Capt. David Katz. The man, described as a Torrance native, jumped from the cliff, suffered an undisclosed injury and did not resurface after hitting the water below.
Before rescuers arrived, a pair of bystanders aided the victim.
“Two bystanders who were off duty lifeguards jumped in and pulled the man from the bottom of the water to safety. The man was unconscious but started to breath after being pulled onto the shore,” according to Katz.
After arriving, the SAR team worked with the LA County Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Department and State Park Rangers to get the victim properly into a patient “litter” to wheel him from the water to a nearby helicopter.
He had “no apparent physical injuries” but was treated as a fall victim by being placed into a backboard and C-collar.
“Because of the fall and loss of consciousness, he was air lifted to trauma center,” Katz said.
Rescuers also called to treat woman with broken foot
As crews tended to the injured male, they simultaneously received a call about a woman with a broken foot just 30 yards away from the rock pool incident.
The female, also 19 years old and from New Jersey, was treated after authorities properly transported the male victim to a waiting helicopter. She was similarly placed into the “litter” and moved to an ambulance for treatment.
