Los Angeles police said that four people — two men and two women — plunged at least 300 feet over the side of a cliff in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. Monday morning, leaving one dead and three people injured on a beach below an ocean cliff early Monday. Two of the people suffered traumatic injuries while the fourth person suffered a minor injury and was able to walk away. The deadly fall happened around 4:45 a.m., about an hour before sunrise. First responders began their rescue and recovery operation around 5:45 a.m.

Reports state that one person was hoisted from the bottom of the cliff by a helicopter, and brought to the top of the cliff, while a second person was airlifted straight to the hospital. A second person was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Both people taken to the hospital are in critical condition.

No car was involved in the fall, and L.A. County Fire officials say they all appeared to have been on foot. Palos Verdes Estates is on the Palos Verdes Peninsula at the south end of Los Angeles County. A trail runs along the bluff top high above the Pacific Ocean. The area where the fall happened was described as very unstable, with very loose soil, and no fencing in the area.

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