Missing man tried to swim back to shore after jump from California cliff, deputies say

A man has gone missing after jumping from a cliff into the Pacific Ocean, California authorities said.

Santa Cruz County deputies got a call from a bystander Feb. 25, saying they saw a man trying to swim back to shore at Wilder Ranch State Park, according to a Facebook post by the sheriff’s office.

The strong currents didn’t allow for the man to return to shore, deputies said.

Santa Cruz City Fire along with other personnel are scouring the water and searching the area by helicopter and drone, the sheriff’s office said.

As of Feb. 26, the man has not been found, deputies said, adding that they’re not yet publicly releasing the man’s name.

Wilder Ranch State Park sits on 7,000 acres and has 35 miles of trails through locations such as the Santa Cruz Mountains and coastal bluffs.

The park is about an 80-mile drive southeast of San Francisco.

This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Missing man tried to swim back to shore after jump from California cliff, deputies say."