Firefighters Rescue Man Stuck On Billboard Catwalk

EAST PALO ALTO, CA — A man hanging from an elevated cat walk attached to a highway billboard on Bayshore Road was rescued after he was throwing things as a call for help because he was dizzy and unable to come down on his own, the Menlo Park Fire Protection District reported Thursday.

Menlo Park's ladder setup that comes with a basket and ropes for high-angle rescues was dispatched to the scene at 1895 East Bayshore Road and Pulgas Avenue in which the man in his 30s was stuck 25 feet up from the road.

This isn't the first time this fire crew has responded to these types of scenes. It's an intricate operation that requires a higher level of skill, expertise and teamwork to pull off in safely securing a victim.

Fire truck No. 2 was positioned as a makeshift crane in-order to use the 108-foot aerial ladder to lift the man from the catwalk. From there, the man was placed in a metal liter basket and strapped down.

"We occasionally have used our aerial ladders as makeshift cranes to remove people and animals from trees, creek beds, culverts, bridges, roof tops or open basements under construction, usually under similar unique circumstances," Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said. "I guess we can now we can add billboards to that list. I’m glad it turned out well and was done in just under an hour before the commute started back up on Highway 101."

The East Palo Alto Police Department, which called out the fire district, said the man was placed under a 72-hour mental health hold and ended up at a San Mateo County hospital.