Archive image: A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew assigned to Air Station Borinquen during a search and rescue training exercise at Ponce, Puerto Rico, July 18, 2024.
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Felix Ortiz Rivera.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew conducted the rescue of two people stranded at the bottom of a shoreside cliff off Seven Seas Beach in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rescued are an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man, who became trapped at the bottom of the cliff because of the increasing sea state.
Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders received a call at 7p.m., Saturday, from Fajardo Municipal Office of Emergency Management responders, who requested assistance to safely recover the two persons due to a head injury sustained by the woman while trying to climb the rocky cliff.
Sector San Juan watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew to conduct the search and rescue mission.
The man and woman were transported to the Centro Medico Hospital in San Juan where they were received by awaiting medical personnel.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen.
U.S. Coast Guard Southeast.
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.
Once on-scene, the MH-60T Jayhawk MRR Helicopter aircrew deployed the rescue swimmer who assessed the situation and the condition of the two stranded persons. Shortly thereafter, the rescue helicopter aircrew used a rescue basket to hoist them both safely aboard the aircraft.
The man and woman were transported to the Centro Medico Hospital in San Juan where they were received by awaiting emergency medical services (EMS) personnel.
“We appreciate the teamwork between our emergency response partners from the Fajardo Municipal Office of Emergency Management and Emergency Medical Service personnel who worked seamlessly with our aircrew to rescue the two people and transport them to a higher level of care,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ray Lopez, Sector San Juan Search and Rescue (SAR) mission coordinator for the case. “We urge beachgoers to monitor weather advisories for rip currents and high-surf conditions, and heed warning signs at beaches. Don’t become a victim, stay away from dangerous shoreside rock formations during increased sea states.”
–USCG–
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