SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk aircrew, watch standers and local emergency responders rescued two people stranded at the bottom of a shoreside cliff off Seven Seas Beach in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Saturday.
Rescued are an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man, who became trapped at the bottom of the cliff because of the increasing sea state.
Coast Guard watch standers at Sector San Juan received a call at 7p.m., Saturday, from Fajardo Municipal Office of Emergency Management responders, who requested assistance to safely recover the two persons due to a head injury sustained by the woman while trying to climb the rocky cliff. Watch standers directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen to provide rescue assistance. Once on-scene, the aircrew lowered their rescue swimmer who assessed the situation and the condition of the two stranded persons. Shortly thereafter, the aircrew used a rescue basket to hoist them both safely aboard the aircraft. The man and woman were transported to the Centro Medico Hospital in San Juan where they were received by awaiting medical personnel.
“We appreciate the teamwork between our emergency response partners from the Fajardo Municipal Office of Emergency Management and Emergency Medical Service personnel who worked seamlessly with our aircrew to rescue the two people and transport them to a higher level of care,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ray Lopez, Sector San Juan Search and Rescue mission coordinator for the case. “We urge beachgoers to monitor weather advisories for rip currents and high-surf conditions, and heed warning signs at beaches. Don’t become a victim, stay away from dangerous shoreside rock formations during increased sea states.”
Our U.S. Coast Guard crews stand ready to save lives, protect America’s waterways, and support safe maritime activity.
For the latest information on the grounding and response efforts, follow Sector San Juan.
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