California Highway Patrol air crews and local firefighters hauled a stranded paraglider off a sheer Daly City cliff in a 90‑minute rescue, leaving him alive with moderate injuries.
Story Highlights
- Paraglider crashed near Mussel Rock and was stranded hundreds of feet below the roadway.
- California Highway Patrol helicopter lowered a rescue technician to reach the pilot.
- Fire crews and paramedics coordinated the extraction and hospital transport.
- Incident fits a pattern of repeated cliff rescues at Mussel Rock in recent years.
Rescue Unfolds On Steep Daly City Cliff
Witnesses and responders reported the crash near Mussel Rock around 4:10 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Crews arrived and found the paraglider stuck on extremely rough terrain several hundred feet below the roadway. The drop and loose rock made a ground-only rescue unsafe. The man could not climb out. Firefighters staged above and below while air support moved into position along the windy Pacific bluff to set up a technical extraction.
California Highway Patrol air operations brought a helicopter to the scene with a trained rescue technician on board. The crew hovered near the cliff face while the technician was lowered on a line to the stranded pilot. The technician secured the man in a rescue harness. The helicopter then hoisted them up from the cliff to a safe landing area where ground crews were ready to take over medical care.
Multi-Agency Teamwork And Patient Outcome
Daly City fire personnel coordinated with the helicopter crew to manage rotor wash, safety lines, and landing zones. Paramedics met the hoist team after the lift and began treatment on scene. The patient had moderate injuries, according to local reports, and was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. Officials said the rescue took about 90 minutes from the first call to the transfer to medical care, reflecting the terrain and wind challenges.
Reporters noted slight differences in which local fire entity took lead, citing Daly City Fire Department or North County Fire Authority. Those agencies routinely work together along the San Mateo County coastline, and both are familiar with the Mussel Rock hazards. Despite the steep slope and shifting gusts, the mission ended without further injury to the pilot or the rescuers, which underscores disciplined training and clear coordination on the cliff.
Mussel Rock’s Ongoing Risk Profile
Local outlets have tracked several similar incidents at Mussel Rock over recent years. The site’s sharp bluffs, rotor winds, and narrow landing options create a recurring risk for paragliders. Earlier reports describe cliff strikes, hard landings, and complicated extractions that often need a helicopter hoist or basket. July 2026 coverage recorded another paraglider rescue at this same coastal zone, showing this is a known danger spot, not a one-off event.
NCFA fire companies on scene of a paraglider stranded on cliff in area of Westline in Daly City. Crews conducting rescue operations. Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/nYyjofoWcT
— North County Fire Authority (@NoCoFire) August 19, 2026
Seasoned pilots know coastal winds can shift fast near cliffs, and small mistakes get punished by rock and surf. Authorities advise flyers to check conditions and use extreme caution at Mussel Rock. For residents, this rescue is a reminder that strong local first responders stand ready when adventure meets hard reality. In this case, a precise hoist and steady teamwork saved a life on a wall of stone above the Pacific, and the injured man will get another day.
Sources:
nypost.com, ktvu.com, sfist.com, abc7news.com
