A 19-year-old swept off the rocks at San Diego's iconic Sunset Cliffs reef and into the water said he feared for his life as he struggled in the strong currents and high surf.
Christian Romo, 19, was standing at the edge of the shore at Pappy's Point, near Osprey at Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, when he was swept off the reef and into the water, San Diego Lifeguards said.
Romo, shaken, said he never expected something like this would happen to him.
"I was hanging on the rock over there, I thought I was going to drown; definitely a scary experience," Romo said.
A crane arm stretched over the side of the cliff, reaching down to the bottom to help rescue the teen.
He was safely rescued and only suffered minor scrapes.
Lifeguards said they responded to more than 12 rescues on Sunday alone. Many of those, they said, were avoidable situations.
