"I thought I was going to drown"
SAN DIEGO -- A 19-year-old swimmer was rescued by lifeguards Sunday afternoon from seaside cliffs after a wave knocked him into the water and swept him into a cove, reports CBS San Diego affiliate KFMB-TV.
The teen was trying to survey the water before going snorkeling when a wave crashed up against the cliff he was on and knocked him into the water. The waves then swept him into a cove, where he got stuck up against rocks.
"I thought I was going to drown. There was a point where I was hanging on the rock over there and I thought I was going to drown. Definitely a very scary experience," said Christian Romo.
A passerby saw Romo in trouble and called 911.
When lifeguards arrived, they found Romo clinging to the rocks in the cove. While lifeguards assembled a hoisting crane, one lifeguard went down to check on Romo and prepare him for the hoist. Once the crane was assembled, Romo was hoisted to safety up the cliff wall.
He only suffered minor bruising during the incident.
San Diego lifeguards the rescue was the third rescue in three days. They were advising the public to be cautious and aware of the surroundings when visiting the cliffs.