By Daniella Segura
The Charlotte Observer
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. 鈥 A man stumbled off a cliff while chasing after his pet parrot, California officials say.
The man was trying to get his bird when he 鈥渇ell over the side of a steep cliff鈥 on Sunday, March 17, Orange County Fire Authority said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Firefighters, including our Helicopter 2, responded to the O鈥橬eill Park area shortly before 4:00 PM for a Remote Rescue today. Attempting to rescue his bird, a man fell over the side of a steep cliff - finding himself about 12 feet down, with about a 40 foot vertical drop below.
— OCFA PIO (@OCFireAuthority)
鈥淔ortunately, he landed where he did and didn鈥檛 continue down, because the crews that were on scene reported that it was about a 40-foot drop after that,鈥 Capt. Thanh Nguyen told McClatchy News in a phone interview.
Fire officials arrived after bystanders called 911, Nguyen said.
The first fire crew to arrive decided 鈥渢he quickest and safest way鈥 to rescue the man would be 鈥渁 pick operation, where a firefighter rescuer is lowered from the helicopter,鈥 Nguyen said.
The man was placed in a harness and airlifted from the area, all while clutching his parrot that he tucked under his shirt, Nguyen said.
Paramedics checked the man for injuries, but he was fine, according to Nguyen.
Nguyen said he鈥檚 unsure of how the bird got away initially.
O鈥橬eill Regional Park is in Trabuco Canyon, about a 55-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles.
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