San Diego
A San Diego man was rescued Saturday morning by firefighters after he fell while rock climbing off Suncrest Road in Crest. He suffered broken ribs, facial injuries and a ruptured spleen and was listed in serious condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital.
The victim, Joseph Rico, apparently slipped while climbing a 700-foot cliff near the 3300 block of Suncrest and fell about 100 feet, bouncing off rocks in the plunge.
Eight members of the Crest Fire Department aided by other rock climbers managed to reach Rico, place him in a rescue gurney and lift him to the top of the bluff, said Acting Chief Kevin Clark. A sheriff’s helicopter then ferried Rico to a rendezvous with a Life Flight helicopter, which took him to the hospital.
A hospital spokeswoman said late Saturday that Rico was still in surgery and would be placed in intensive care after the operation.
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