UPDATE: 2:30 PM — The Coroner’s Unit of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has released the identification of a man who had fallen off a cliff at Pirate’s Cove near Avila Beach on Wednesday. The man has been identified as 33-year-old Francisco Javier Velasco Garcia of Nipomo.

According to witnesses, the man had been sitting on the cliff overlooking the water. When he got up to leave, he lost his footing, slipped backward and fell approximately 200 feet to the cliffs below.

At this time, the death appears to be accidental.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine manner and cause of death.

AVILA BEACH — San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s are investigating what seems to be an accidental death that occurred on Wednesday, June 21, at Pirates Cover near Avila Beach.

Deputies responded that afternoon to reports of a man who had fallen off a cliff at the cove. Emergency responders, including deputies, Cal Fire, and Harbor Patrol, arrived to the incident to begin a rescue operation. When they arrived, the man had no pulse, was not breathing, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to witnesses, the man had been sitting on the cliff overlooking the water. When he got up to leave, he lost his footing, slipped backward, and fell approximately 200 feet to the cliffs below.

At this time, deputies report the death appears to be accidental. Identification of the victim is pending notification of next of kin.