On May 9th at about 5:15 in the afternoon, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers received a call of a man stuck on a rock wall along Highway 180 at Dunlap Road.
The 36 year old Porterville man had pulled off to the side of the road with his friend and decided it would be fun to climb a set of large boulders along a hillside. Once he got about 75 feet up, the rocks below him began to crumble and shift, causing him to become too afraid to climb down. His friend called dispatchers who sent deputies and Cal Fire firefighters to the area to perform a rescue. Cal Fire’s ladder on their truck was not long enough to reach him, so the Sheriff’s Office helicopter, EAGLE One, was requested to perform a rock face rescue. Deputies in the helicopter lowered a cinch collar down to the man, he wrapped it around himself and our pilot flew him away from the rocks. He was safely lowered to the roadway where medical personnel were standing by to check him out. He was not injured.
The man was not wearing any shoes, did not have any water, no supplies and he did not have any prior climbing or hiking experience.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind folks to always be prepared while engaging in any outdoor activities. Bring the necessary safety equipment and never push beyond the limits of your experience.
