An incredible rescue took place Saturday in the rugged Fresno County foothills.
64-year-old Lawrence Leon Bishop was hiking at Dinkey Lakes Trail when he fell hundreds of feet down a ledge and clung on to life for two days before rescuers found him.
The man was scratched up and dehydrated when rescuers got to him but he has since been released from the hospital.
Helicopters from two different agencies took part in the rescue. A CHP helicopter hovered 20 feet from Bishop, 600 feet down a steep granite mountain side.
A sheriff's deputy climbed across the granite and found the 64-year-old man on his right knee, with his left leg hanging over the edge.
Fresno County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Curtice said, "He was completely exhausted. He couldn't even respond to them when they talked to him. At that point, one of our deputies left his position of safety, and Without using ropes or anything, he did what they call free climb across the granite and got to Mr. Bishop."
The deputy secured Bishop and gave him first aid before the helicopter hoisted both of them to safety.
We know that he fell at least twice, trying to make his way down that. We don't know how far he made it down before he fell the first time but spent two nights up there on the ledge," said Deputy Curtice.
The CHP helicopter was in the air and dozens of searchers on the ground. They checked trails and campsites in the Dinkey Lakes Trail for two nights until they finally heard Bishop moaning on the ledge Saturday afternoon.
Bishop is from Santa Barbara where he reportedly works in Parks and Recreation.
