The Coast Guard MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew poses with a teen that was successfully rescued from a cliff at Sue-Meg State Park, July 20, 2026.
The Air Station Humboldt Bay MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew hoisted the 13-year-old boy from a ledge approximately 200 feet above Agate Beach and safely transported him to the Air Station with no reported injuries.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
MCKINLEYVILLE, California. — A Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew performed the rescue of a 13-year-old boy stranded on a cliff at Sue-Meg State Park. Monday, July 20, 2026, at evening.
At 7:51 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders received a report from a California State Parks lifeguard that a teen was stranded on a cliff ledge on the south side of Agate Beach, approximately 200 feet above the shoreline. The teen had been climbing recreationally and was unable to descend.
California State Parks personnel remained on scene while local fire and rescue units responded. Sector Humboldt Bay assumed coordination of the rescue and launched an Air Station Humboldt Bay MH-65E Dolphin Short-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew.
The MH-65E Dolphin SRR Helicopter aircrew arrived on scene, coordinated with ground responders deployed the rescue swimmer and safely hoisted the teen from the cliff. Due to limited landing areas within the park, the rescue helicopter transported the teen to Air Station Humboldt Bay.
No injuries were reported.
The teen was later reunited with his parents through coordination between CAL FIRE and California State Parks.
–USCG–
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