CAMARILLO : Youth Critical After Falling From Cliff at Mugu Rock

A 16-year-old Camarillo youth was listed in critical condition at St. John’s Regional Medical Center Thursday after he fell from a 40-foot cliff at Mugu Rock and hit his head, authorities said.

The youth and two 16-year-old friends skipped school at Rio Mesa High School to go to Mugu Rock, the site of three drownings in the past two years, county officials said.

“It’s fenced off for a reason,” said Sheriff’s Deputy Luis De Anda. “It’s a very dangerous area.”

The three Camarillo youths had climbed down to the bottom of the cliff and were heading back up when one of them lost his footing and fell 40 feet to the jagged rocks below, said county Fire Capt. Al Plasch.

Authorities would not release his name because he is a minor.

One of the youth’s friends, David Abney, called for help at a public telephone at 10:05 a.m.

Plasch said that when he arrived at the scene the youth was wedged head-down between rocks, with the water washing over him.

One county firefighter climbed down the rock to reach the boy, while three other firefighters were dropped off by helicopter at the bottom. The team strapped the youth into a stretcher basket and airlifted him to the bluff, Plasch said.

Paramedics then performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The boy had stopped breathing and was unconscious, Plasch said.

The youth was taken by helicopter to St. John’s where he underwent surgery Thursday afternoon.