Encinitas bluff collapse kills one beachgoer, injures others

Sheriff warns news choppers to fly higher above scene

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Emergency lights. (Ariel Camilo, FreeImages)

North Coast Current

A bluff collapse at Grandview Beach in the Encinitas community of Leucadia killed one person and injured others Friday, Aug. 2, authorities reported.

The portion of bluff fell on beachgoers near the 1700 block of Neptune Avenue just before 3 p.m., according to an Encinitas city update. One victim was airlifted to a local hospital.

Rescue operations are underway to free the remaining two or three victims, according to updates from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Encinitas lifeguards and live news reports. The victims have not yet been identified.

Sheriff Bill Gore issued a warning to news media at 4:41 p.m. to fly helicopters higher above the scene as vibrations from flight were interfering with rescue operations and assessment.

“The vibrations of your aircraft are affecting safety operations for first responders and could cause further instability at the scene,” Gore stated via Twitter. “Please fly higher.”

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