Woman Rescued From Cliff Shares Survival Story

Maxime Rancourt recounts her harrowing experience being rescued from an oceanside cliff in San Francisco.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:27am by Ben Kaplan

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of ocean waves crashing against rocky cliffs, composed entirely of soft, warm pools of light and muted colors, conceptually representing the perilous conditions and heroic rescue effort.A dramatic rescue on the California coast highlights the dangers of swimming in areas with powerful surf and the heroic efforts of first responders.San Francisco Today

Maxime Rancourt, a San Francisco resident, found herself clinging to the side of a cliff at Kelly's Cove after being pulled away from the beach by a strong current while swimming. Firefighters from the San Francisco Fire Department's Coastal Rescue Unit arrived and were able to safely rescue Rancourt, who was stranded on the cliff in just her swimsuit.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the dangers of swimming in areas with high-energy surf breaks, like Kelly's Cove, which can quickly pull swimmers away from shore and into treacherous conditions. The rescue also showcases the important work of the San Francisco Fire Department's specialized rescue teams in responding to these types of emergencies.

The details

Rancourt said she went for a swim at Kelly's Cove, on the city's northwest side, but was quickly pulled away from the beach by a strong current, finding herself about 50 meters offshore. She was able to reach and climb onto the side of a nearby cliff, where she clung to the rocks in just her swimsuit and without her glasses. A stranger saw Rancourt's predicament and called 911, prompting a response from the San Francisco Fire Department's Coastal Rescue Unit.

  • Rancourt's ordeal began when she went for a swim at Kelly's Cove on an unspecified date.
  • Firefighters rescued Rancourt from the cliff last week.

The players

Maxime Rancourt

A San Francisco resident who was rescued from a cliff after being pulled away from the beach by a strong current while swimming.

San Francisco Fire Department Coastal Rescue Unit

A specialized team of firefighters who responded to the emergency and successfully rescued Rancourt from the cliff.

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What they’re saying

“The current like just like took me away from the beach, like, almost like 50 meters. All of a sudden, like, I was pulled away.”

— Maxime Rancourt

“You look at here, you see these three rocks. It creates somewhat of a turbulent area, almost like a toilet bowl situation where the waves bounce off, and it just makes it really challenging.”

— Harry Higgins, San Francisco Fire Department

The takeaway

This dramatic rescue serves as a reminder of the importance of exercising caution when swimming in areas with strong currents and high-energy surf, and the vital role that specialized emergency response teams like the San Francisco Fire Department's Coastal Rescue Unit play in keeping the public safe.