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Video: Man Gets Stuck On Steep Cliff After FaceTime Marriage Proposal [UPDATE]
A Fresno man’s marriage proposal wound up on the rocks on Thursday morning after an ill-advised stunt.
Just after sunrise on Thursday morning, Michael John Paul Banks of Fresno climbed the 600-foot southern side of Morro Rock to propose to his girlfriend via FaceTime, reports the San Luis Obispo Tribune. The good news was that she said yes to the daring, if reckless, romantic. The bad news was that the rock climber took a different, much steeper route down the eastern face of the rock, where he became stranded on a small, precarious ledge. Ain't love grand?
Around 8:30 a.m., a California Highway Patrol helicopter was sent to the scene in Morro Bay State Park—though its not clear if they were called via FaceTime—to rescue Banks from the cliff, which looks like it was no easy feat as the helicopter had to fly very close to the rock:
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The rescue crew managed to safely return Banks to solid ground with only a few scrapes. He was, however, issued a misdemeanor citation for trespassing and is expected to be billed for the helicopter lift, which could cost several thousand dollars, according to local NBC affiliate KSBY.
"It is illegal to climb Morro Rock because it kills people," said Morro Bay Fire Chief Steve Knuckles, told KSBY. "I have been on at least four calls where people have died on the rock. Since this time last year, we have had four incidents where we have had to use rope to get people off the rock." Also, don't mess with "Chief Knuckles."
Illegal climber rescued off Morro Bay by CHP helicopter & MBFD personnel. Assisted by SLO County Fire, Harbor, USCG pic.twitter.com/8nJ4nB9FhE
— Morro Bay Fire (@MorroBayFire) April 7, 2016
Update [2:27]: Authorities say that Banks was later found to be "acting erratically" and high on meth, reports the AP. Chief Knuckles says Banks was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine. Maybe his fiancé should reconsider that "yes."
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