DALY CITY, Calif. — A Coast Guard aircrew rescued a woman from a cliff in Daly City Wednesday morning.
Wednesday at 2:40 a.m., Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received a report of a man and woman trapped on a cliff with their two dogs. The man reportedly climbed up the cliff face to safety and called for help. The woman and her two dogs remained trapped as local residents and the Daly City Fire Department personnel continued rescue efforts.
The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue aircrew specially trained in vertical cliff hoist rescues from Air Station San Francisco. The aircrew located the woman on a cliff side approximately 100 feet above the ground. At approximately 6:48 a.m., a the aircrew lowered a rescue swimmer, who secured her with a rescue harness sling and lifted her from the cliff into the helicopter.
The woman was taken to San Francisco International Airport where Emergency Medical Services personnel were standing by to provide a medical assessment. The woman reportedly suffered only minor injuries.
"This took great collaborative effort with Daly City Fire Department's Battalion 20, North County Fire, Sector San Francisco and our aircrew to rescue the woman from the cliff safely," said Lt. Cmdr. Dustin Williams, Air Station San Francisco MH-65 pilot. "We were able to locate her with her dog with the help of the firefighter crews shining lights on her location while flying amid a cloud of dirt."
Animal rescue professionals and the Daly City Fire Department remained on scene to attempt to rescue the two dogs.
The Coast Guard routinely conducts helicopter cliff rescue training and has developed a specialized training program for performing these unique rescues safely.
“Training prepares us for a multitude of missions we could be called upon to respond in a moment's notice," said Capt. Patrick Nelson, deputy commander, Sector San Francisco. “Wherever the American people need us, we are ready.”