California emergency crews worked together for 20 hours to free a man who fell into a hole on the side of a cliff, San Diego Fire-Rescue (SDFD) said.SDFD said a passerby called 911 on Thursday, December 21, after finding a man trapped in a hole and pinned down by heavy rocks and debris near Cable and Orchard Streets. The man was conscious and talking but unable to get out of the small space, which had an opening of about 12 to 18 inches, SDFD said.Firefighters and lifeguards worked for hours to free the man but paused operations overnight due to a rising tide and storm that was forecast. The man was given heat packs, drinks, and intravenous fluids, and an engine company stayed with him overnight.A special cave rescue team arrived early in the morning from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and used equipment to split rocks and remove them by hand.“The greatest challenge in this unprecedented rescue was the pressure on the patient’s legs. He was pinned from the waist down,” SDFD said.The man was finally freed just before 11 am on Friday and was transported to a local hospital. "The man was awake during the extrication and said, “Thank you,” to his rescuers," SDFD said. Credit: San Diego Fire-Rescue via Storyful