SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A local photographer captured the terrifying moment two San Diego Seals lacrosse players jumped from Sunset Cliffs into a high surf area Thursday, prompting a rescue.
Lifeguards received the call at about 10:45 a.m. that two men in their 20s who had jumped from an area called "The Arches" needed assistance, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Monica Muñoz.
Photographer Jim Grant was there as the two men leaped from the archway over the surf. Soon, both were in trouble. In one photo, one of the men is clinging to rocks as waves batter him.
One of the men was pulled by lifeguards onto a rescue craft and taken lifeguard headquarters. Lifeguards performed a cliff rescue to pull the second man to safety, Muñoz said.
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The men were not injured, according to Muñoz. The San Diego Seals professional lacrosse team later confirmed the two men were players on the team:
"Two San Diego Seals players were at Sunset Cliffs this morning. Both players went into the ocean. Due to high surf conditions, the players were helped back to shore by city lifeguards. We have been staying in close touch with our players and are relieved to report that everyone is safe," the statement read.
The team's first game in San Diego is this Saturday.
The City of San Diego's municipal code prohibits jumping into the ocean from a height greater than five feet, Muñoz added. It's also recommended to stay out of the water during high surf events unless near a lifeguard, which San Diego's coastline has experienced this week.
