Advertisement

Man Found Clinging to 60-Foot High Cliff in California Is Rescued by Helicopter — See the Video

The man fell near the Battery Alexander trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and was reportedly dangling about 40 feet above the ocean's water line

<p>Sonoma County Sheriff

Sonoma County Sheriff's Office

Sceenshot from video shared by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office of the cliff rescue near Battery Alexander on Sunday
  • A helicopter crew rescued a man from a 50 to 60-foot cliff in California on Sunday after learning he "had fallen from the cliff" near the Battery Alexander trail in Sonoma County

  • Footage of the rescue, shared by the sheriff's office, shows the harrowing rescue play out as the victim clung to the side of the bluff

  • The man was flown to the top of the mountain, where he was medically evaluated by fire crews, according to the sheriff's office

A man was rescued via helicopter from a large cliff in California on Easter Sunday — and it was all caught on camera.

The helicopter crew sprang into action around 7:40 p.m. local time after learning that the man “had fallen from a cliff” near the Battery Alexander trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, according to Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

The individual seeking help reportedly had fallen about 50 to 60 feet down “and was clinging to the gravel rock face” when help was requested.

The victim was precariously positioned “about 40 feet” above the ocean’s water line as the tide was coming in, according to Jason Golden, Battalion Chief with Southern Marin Fire, per ABC affiliate KABC-TV.

Related: Former South Carolina Football Player Rescued After 11 Hours Stranded at Sea on Kayak

Footage of the rescue shared by the sheriff’s office shows the helicopter crew honing in on the victim using the aircraft’s thermal imaging camera. The man can be seen clinging to the cliff as the helicopter approaches

In the next portion of the clip, a Tactical Flight Officer can be seen approaching the victim, who appears to have cuts on his bare feet. The officer yells “Don’t let go man!” as he places the victim into a rescue device.

"It was just a much faster operation to use a helicopter," Golden said, per KABC-TV. "And the individual was starting to lose their grip."

The rescuer called it “one of the most precarious rescues because of how the victim was grabbing on and how quickly they were to letting go," Golden said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The victim and rescuer were then flown to the top of the cliff, as seen in the clip shared by the SCSO. According to the sheriff’s office, fire personnel medically evaluated the victim.

It is unclear if the man rescued from the cliff was injured beyond the scrapes visible in the footage.

Golden said about one or two people die from falling from cliffs each year, and urged others to be cautious, according to KABC-TV.

Related: Body of Woman Who Jumped Into Icy River Found Holding Dog She Was Trying to Rescue, Family Says

"Please be very careful when you get to the cliffs,” the chief said. “Don't go up close to the edge and please don't try and climb up."

The Battery Alexander trailhead "provides access to the Batteries Loop Trail," which was originally made to be a jeep road between the gun batteries, according to the National Park Service.

Those who visit the Batteries Loop Trail, which has since "been narrowed to accommodate changes in use," are warned to exercise caution near cliffs.

"Cliffs along the bluffs can be unstable and hazardous," the park service's website says.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.