Romantic rock climber
Banks, 27, whose full name is Michael John Paul Banks, vaulted up Morro Rock near his home in Fresno. The daredevil romantic, who has climbing experience, climbed up 600 feet of sheer rock face and then proposed to his girl on Facetime. She was watching his escapade via a cellphone hook-up.
Okay, mission accomplished, now to get back down.
He choose a different path to return to Earth and somehow along the way he got stuck — couldn’t move for fear of falling. Along came the Morro Bay Fire Department and a helicopter. It wasn’t easy but they managed to harness him and once he was secure, off the rock he came. Safely.
Fire dept. rescue
Morro State Park ranger Dale Kinney said Banks climbed up the south side but tried to get down by climbing the more precarious eastern side of the rock. It’s not a legal climb but people try it now and again and there have been several fatalities.
There may have been another on this day but Kinney said Bank’s saviors did a superb job. “It was a pretty amazing rescue on the part of the Fire Department,” he said.
And finally, ABC Action News30 in the area reports that Mr. Banks was later found to be in the possession of methamphetamine and was subsequently arrested and thrown in the San Luis Obispo jail.
So Banks was charged with a bill and must pay for the helicopter rescue and charged with drug possession. At least he got one thing he was banking on — his girlfriend said yes.
