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The woman, who was identified as 52-year-old Pam Hargett of South Carolina, was paragliding when she apparently lost control and crashed into the side of the Torrey Pines cliffs, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. The downed glider came to rest suspended on a cliff near Black's Beach, said lifeguard Lt. Nick Lerma.

The Medical Examiner's Office said Hargett's fiancé witnessed the incident and called 911.

At one point, as many as 20 rescuers struggled to reach Hargett.

"It was in a very difficult area for rescue crews to get to," said lifeguard Lt. John Everhart.

The rescue team crossed the property of businessman Bill Lerach. He was hosting a fundraiser for Rep. Bob Filner, a candidate for San Diego mayor and for Scott Peters, who is running for Congress.

Lifeguards rappelled down the cliff and secured the unconscious paraglider, Lerma said. A helicopter hoisted the 52-year-old woman to the top of the cliffs where she was pronounced dead, he said.

A friend of the couple who did not want to be identified told 10News he had met Hargett a few times.

Hargett and her fiancé David would travel to San Diego from South Carolina and flew with a local paragliding group, according to the friend. The friend described Hargett as having piloted her own paraglider for two to three years.

The lifeguards who came to Hargett's rescue could not say exactly how she lost control.

"I have no idea whether this is a wind-related issue or an equipment issue or an operator issue," said Everhart.