Michael Banks will forever remember the day he asked his girlfriend to marry him. But not for the right reasons.
The 27-year-old from Fresno scaled the southern side of the 581-foot high Morro Rock, off California's Central Coast, early Thursday, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reports.
Banks used the spectacular backdrop to propose to the love of his life via his iPhone's FaceTime app. She said yes.
But he took a steeper trail back down the eastern side of the cliff and became stranded on a sheer ledge. A witness heard him yelling for help at 8:30 a.m. and dialed 911.
Video posted online shows a California Highway Patrol helicopter winching him off the rock face. He faces paying for the chopper ride, which could run into the thousands of dollars.
To make matters worse, the hapless Banks was cited for trespassing -- because climbing Morro Rock is deemed to be too dangerous, so it's prohibited.
He was also arrested on suspicion of being under the influence and in possession of methamphetamine, KFSN reports.
Banks was at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on Friday morning, in lieu of posting $10,000 bond.
The City of Morro Bay confirmed in a statement to ABC News that Banks "will be billed for the chopper ride and other related costs."
"We are glad all involved are OK, and appreciate the hard work of our first responders. Climbing Morro Rock is illegal and dangerous," the statement added. "We hope folks will choose to view it from below, saving themselves and our fire responders time and money and protecting everyone's safety."
Morro Bay Fire Chief Steve Knuckles also stressed to NBC News the dangers of climbing the volcanic plug. "I have been on at least four calls where people have died on the rock," he said.
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