On Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 4:37 PM, seven Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, one LAFD Rescue Ambulance, one Urban Search and Rescue Unit, two Helicopters, two Fireboats, one EMS Battalion Captain, one Battalion Chief Officer Command Team and one Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of fifty Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, under the direction of Battalion Chief Ray Olsen responded to a Cliff Rescue near Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.

In response to the call of a passerby describing a motionless person at the base of the rugged cliffs west of the Pt. Fermin Lighthouse, the Los Angeles Fire Department rapidly deployed ground-based Firefighters as well as rescue-capable fireboats and helicopters to the scene.

Neighborhood Firefighters scrambled down a steep trail near-dusk to find the lifeless body of an adult male on the rocky shore during low tide conditions. Despite the rapid response of rescuers, the man proved to be beyond medical help and was declared deceased at the scene.

There was no vehicle, surfing or SCUBA equipment seen at the base of the 120-foot cliff, and the man was clad in street clothes rather than aquatic attire.

Firefighters were not able to determine how or when the man arrived at the rocky shoreline, and surmised some manner of physical trauma based solely on the manner in which is torso and limbs were positioned when found.

With darkness and high-tides approaching, Firefighters assisted Los Angeles Police Officers and Coroner's staff in safely accessing the body.

Following the on site investigation by law enforcement, a Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter crew moved the man's remains to the cliff-top Pt. Fermin Park in a safe and dignified manner.

A positive identification of the decedent, as well as the time, cause and manner of his death will be determined by Coroner's officials.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department