Two Rescued From Torrey Pines Cliffs

Two men were rescued from the cliffs at Torrey Pines Glider Port on Sunday after a hang gliding accident left them stranded above Black’s Beach. (nbcsandiego.com) San Diego Fire-Rescue crews were dispatched around 2:35 p.m., and lifeguards reached the victims before fire units arrived, according to the department. FOX 5 identified the pair as an instructor and a student. (fox5sandiego.com) One victim was airlifted off the cliff by a San Diego Fire-Rescue helicopter. The second was hoisted out with a rope system and taken to a local hospital. (nbcsandiego.com; fox5sandiego.com) Both men suffered minor injuries, FOX 5 reported, though San Diego Fire-Rescue did not publicly release their conditions in NBC 7’s account. The scene was cleared in about an hour. (fox5sandiego.com; nbcsandiego.com) The rescue happened at a site that markets tandem paragliding and hang gliding flights and calls itself Southern California’s premier location for both sports. Torrey Pines Gliderport also says it offers instruction, certifications, and equipment services. (flytorrey.com) That flying site sits above Black’s Beach, a two-mile stretch at the base of 300-foot cliffs, according to the City of San Diego. The city and state jointly manage the beach area. (sandiego.gov) The terrain is steep even on legal access routes. California State Parks says one reserve entry has more than 100 stone steps, and San Diego’s tourism agency warns that the bluffs above Torrey Pines beach can be unstable. (parks.ca.gov; sandiego.org) Cliff rescues in the same area are not rare. In July 2025, San Diego Fire-Rescue pulled a man from a large cliff near Torrey Pines Scenic Drive after he slipped down the slope. (fox5sandiego.com) Sunday’s call drew four lifeguard units, two fire trucks, two ambulances, a utility rig, and a battalion chief. By late afternoon, both victims were off the cliff and out of immediate danger. (nbcsandiego.com)