Boy survives 200-foot cliff tumble

A 4-year-old boy was visiting Bodega Head in Bodega Bay with his family when he fell down a cliff Monday evening, a Sonoma County Sheriff’s lieutenant said.

Deputies responded to Sonoma Coast State Beach at 3799 Westshore Road shortly before 5 p.m. to assist fire and emergency crews in the rescue, sheriff’s Lt. Al Vernon said.

The boy’s mother reported that her son had fell off a cliff as she was walking with him on a trail, Bodega Bay Fire Protection District Fire Chief Sean Grinnell said. He was with his parents and sibling before the incident, Vernon said.

Within 30 minutes of arriving on scene, rescuers descended 238 feet to a beach to reach the boy who was found conscious and crying, according to Grinnell. Foggy conditions prevented helicopter crews from arriving to the scene to airlift the boy who was instead transported by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Grinnell said.

Grinnell did not have information on the boy’s condition but said he suffered “traumatic injuries” and broken bones. Vernon said the boy suffered multiple injuries but also did not know his condition.

Personnel from Cal Fire, California State Parks and helicopter crews from the California Highway Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard responded to the rescue.