Cell phone video captures dramatic rescue off a Santa Cruz beach

A dramatic rescue on East Cliff Saturday afternoon involved Central Fire and State Parks officials.

State Parks supervisor Eddie Rhee Pizano said 911 calls came in reporting swimmers in distress.

Upon arrival, crews found people in the water trying to swim against the current to get back to the stairs at 36th Street.

“We had a ski from State Parks that showed up that checked in with them and rescued the three victims and ended up having another three victims,” said Pizano, “so we ended up rescuing six victims with the ski.”

Officials said a rescue swimmer was stationed at the base of the stairs to help all swimmers in safely. This is nothing new to first responders on the Central Coast.

“The problem with East Cliff is that we have the surf and high tide whenever we have surf and a high tide that makes it really difficult to get back to the beach on the staircase so you have to know the conditions and what the tides are and know where to come in safely,” said Pizano.

He adds his agency and others are prepared for this holiday weekend. That includes warm weather, lots of tourists and treacherous surf.