Henderson Man Dies in San Diego After Cliff Collapses

San Diego, California- A Henderson, Nevada tourist visiting Torrey Pines State Beach died yesterday after a huge seaside bluff dropped on his head.

The man, Robert Allen Mellone, was a 57 years old man who was apparently seated to take off his shoes after playing a game of Frisbee with his family. He was buried in debris of sands and boulders and suffered severe head trauma. He was unable to be revived by San Diego Fire-Rescue department who performed CPR. Minutes after being taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Mr. Mellone was officially pronounced dead.

Some of the rocks were said to have been as big as basketball and had fallen some 25 feet to strike the victim on the head. Authorities said Mr. Mellone had been visiting with his brother and nephew, who were in the area playing a game of Frisbee when the tragic accident happened. They were in the flat Rock section of the beach, some several feet below the Torrey Pines Golf Course which was home to the June 2008 U.S. Open. The area was promptly closed off to visitors in case of further rocks falling and for proper investigation.

This is not the first time that a deadly cliff has fallen on a beach guest at a San Diego beach location. In July 2002, a fatal incident occurred at Carlsbad State Beach when an unknown man using the cave as a shelter died from rocks collapsing on him. In January 2000, 30 years old Rebecca Kowalczyk died after a section of Encinitas bluff in Neptune Avenue fell on her. In January 1995, two visitors also died at Torrey Pines State Reserve and another man suffered leg fracture when a beach bluff fell on them.

Warning: be careful when under a cliff area of a beach. Don't rest under anything that you didn't install yourself; your umbrella! Condolences to the family of Mr. Mellone, and may he rest in peace.

Sources:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20080820-1534-bn20torrey2.html
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/279441-3/National/Sunning_man_killed_by_rock_fall/