San Francisco firefighters pull injured hiker from foggy cliff after 7-hour Lands End rescue

In a seven-hour operation, San Francisco firefighters rescued an injured hiker from a steep, fog-covered cliffside near Dead Man's Point early Saturday after the person became stranded below the cliff face in hazardous conditions.

The San Francisco Fire Department said crews were dispatched at about 8:47 p.m. Friday to reports of an injured adult hiker stranded on a steep cliffside below Dead Man's Point, in the Lands End area of the Presidio/Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Initial reports indicated the hiker had sustained a lower-extremity injury and could not get out without help, the department said.

Dense fog, darkness, steep terrain and heavy vegetation initially kept rescuers from visually locating the hiker. San Francisco Emergency Management 911 dispatchers and an on-scene fire lieutenant maintained phone contact with the hiker while firefighters used cellphone triangulation and coordinated search efforts to pinpoint the person's location, the department said.

Once rescue technicians found the hiker, SFFD technical rescue teams set up multiple rope-rescue systems and anchor points along the unstable cliff face. Crews worked through near-zero visibility, dense brush, loose rock, deteriorating terrain and limited access routes, the department said.

As conditions changed, the department deployed two rescue boats and Fireboat 03 offshore to support water-based rescue operations and lighting. The San Francisco Police Department Drone Unit also provided aerial support to help rescuers locate the hiker and maintain visual contact.

Firefighters initially requested a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter as the cliff face and the small perch supporting the hiker became increasingly unstable, heightening the risk of a second fall, the department said. But dense fog returned, making an aerial extraction unsafe, and crews continued with a ground and marine rescue plan.

With the situation becoming more urgent, rescue technicians developed a controlled extraction strategy. The hiker was instructed to descend the cliff face to the shoreline before the deteriorating cliff face could give way, the department said.

The SFFD rescue swimmers, including rescue swimmer paramedics staged in the surf zone, reached the hiker after the descent. The department said rescue swimmers secured the hiker in turbulent surf while rocks slammed against the person, then provided medical care and transferred the hiker to a waiting rescue boat.

The hiker was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening and was expected to make a full recovery, the department said.

One SFFD rescue swimmer sustained minor injuries during the operation and was taken to an emergency department for evaluation. The firefighter-rescue swimmer was expected to recover fully.

The rescue operation ended about 3:44 a.m. Saturday, roughly seven hours after the initial call for help, officials said.

"This rescue highlights the extraordinary dedication, technical expertise, and teamwork of our firefighters and partner agencies," Capt. Jonathan Baxter said in a statement. "Despite difficult terrain, shifting weather, and significant risks, crews remained focused on safely rescuing the victim and protecting the lives of everyone involved."

Firefighters were assisted by the San Francisco Police Department Drone Unit, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Park Police and other agencies.

The area is near Lands End, a coastal section of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area known for trails and steep bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The National Park Service advises visitors to stay on trails and keep away from cliffs.

The rescue took place as San Francisco's coastline was under a coastal flood advisory and ahead of a beach hazards statement warning of sneaker waves, strong rip currents and large breaking waves. The National Weather Service warned of dangerous shoreline conditions and urged people to stay off rocks, piers, jetties and other waterside structures.

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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 10:41 AM.