Editor's note: The original version of this story was published at 11:30 a.m. and reported the victim was stranded on Arch Rock. The Newport Beach Fire Department says it originally provided inaccurate information about the rescue and said it happened at Ladder Rock.
Emergency responders worked for two hours to rescue a male who was stuck on Ladder Rock -- a restricted area that protrudes from the water -- near Cameo Shores in Corona del Mar, a fire official reported today.
Firefighters and lifeguards received a rescue call about 8:37 p.m. Monday when the male, whose age was not released, was climbing through the 35-foot by 100-foot Ladder Rock with some friends and was unable to get down, according to Jennifer Schulz, of the Newport Beach Fire Department. A helicopter and a sheriff's rescue boat also responded to the scene to assist in the rescue, but the boat couldn't get close enough to help the victim because of the kelp and rocks.
"A Newport Beach firefighter waded to the large rock to assess the individual’s status and reassure the individual, while lifeguards swam out to assess the water depth and hazards," Schulz explained.
Firefighters performed a high-angle rescue from the top of the large rock using a 35-foot ladder and a rescue group of eight firefighters traversed approximately 100 feet from the west to the east side over the top of Ladder Rock to set up a lowering operation to reach the stranded person.
"Once anchor points were secured, a firefighter was lowered to secure the person with a rescue harness and the team lowered the person to the waterline, where a lifeguard was waiting in the water to assist the individual to shore," Schulz said.
The male was assessed at the scene by paramedics and did not want to be taken to a hospital. Schulz says Monday night's rescue serves as a reminder to people to stay out of the restricted rocky area and use extreme caution while climbing rocks near the ocean.
"The rocks can be slippery or the tide can rise and strand individuals," Schulz said.
During the rescue the helicopter was used to provide overhead lighting and directed emergency responders to access and anchor points, while a security team from one of the nearby homes provided more lighting to the rescue area.
Also: Waste of time for the helicopter use...if you're gunna spend the money to use the ghetto bird, at least use it as an alternative to the entire lifeguard/firefighting team and send one dude down with a harness, hook the dude up, and get him out of there...waste of tacpayer's money for "lighting" when the security guards provided adequate lighting for the rescue as is.