Hopeless romantic scales cliff to propose; gets stuck and has to be rescued by helicopter

Mike Gallagher

Apr 8, 2016 - 03:37

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Hopeless romantic scales cliff to propose; gets stuck and has to be rescued by helicopter

On the rocks already?

As we know, just getting down on one knee doesn’t cut it anymore. So, Michael Banks, 27, planned out a romantic proposal of epic proportions. He would scale the 600ft Morro Rock, a well-known landmark in Morro Bay, Califoia, and then propose to his girlfriend watching via FaceTime.

But, all relationships have their ups and downs. And Michael experienced both in very quick succession.

Happily, she said ‘yes’. In less happy news, he got stuck on the way back down and had to be airlifted to safety.

In this photo provided by Bob Isenberg, Michael Banks is stranded on a ledge some 80 feet off the ground on Morro Rock, e a landmark in Morro Bay, Calif., Thursday, April 7, 2016. He had scaled the rock to make an Inteet proposal to his girlfriend - who said yes - but then got stuck on a ledge and couldn't get down. A helicopter had to be called, and Morro Bay Fire Department Capt. Todd Gailey was lowered by cable to pluck Banks and take him to safety.(Bob Isenberg via AP)

Michael got stranded on a narrow cliff ledge (Picture: Bob Isenberg)

After confirming Michael was now officially off the market, Morro Bay fire Capt. Todd Gailey told the Chicago Sun Times how it all went horribly wrong for him.

Michael ‘took a different trail down, much steeper’ he explained.. ‘He couldn’t go any direction, on a sheer ledge, with his feet dangling 80 feet off the ground.’

Rescuers were alerted to the young man clinging to the cliff edge and a helicopter was dispatched to hoist him to safety. Gailey said that Michael was relatively calm, if ‘a little unnerved’ during the rescue.

In this photo provided by Bob Isenberg, Michael Banks is rescued after being stranded on a ledge some 80 off the ground on Morro Rock, a landmark in Morro Bay, Calif., Thursday, April 7, 2016. He had scaled the rock to make an Inteet proposal to his girlfriend - who said yes - but then got stuck on a ledge and couldn't get down. A helicopter had to be called, and Morro Bay Fire Department Capt. Todd Gailey was lowered by cable to pluck Banks and take him to safety.(Bob Isenberg via AP)

It probably wasn’t the congratulatory hug he was looking for (Picture: Bob Isenberg)

Climbing on Morro Rock is banned, but some people still choose to ignore the waings.

While Gailey admits Michael didn’t express any second thoughts about his edgy proposal choice during his dramatic rescue, he recommends others think twice.

He suggested anyone wishing to sweep someone off their feet should, perhaps, choose a spot ‘where you’re not in danger of falling off a cliff.’