California man rescued after six days missing in remote wilderness

A Fresno, California man was rescued on Independence Day after being missing for six days following a fishing trip, authorities said.

The 70-year-old man was reported missing after he failed to return from a trip near Pine Flat Lake on the morning of June 28. A resident later reported seeing him in the area, and his vehicle and cell phone signal helped guide search efforts.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team launched a ground and aerial operation in the remote wilderness surrounding the lake.

After several days of searching, a volunteer air squadron member spotted the man’s vehicle in a remote area roughly 20 miles northeast of Pine Flat Lake.

Search crews reached the location about an hour and a half later and found the man near his truck.

Because of the rugged terrain, a California Highway Patrol helicopter was used to hoist him from the area and transport him to safety for medical treatment.

Authorities said the man’s family was relieved and reunited with him after the rescue, and he was receiving care at a hospital.

Officials credited coordinated ground crews, aerial support, and volunteers for helping locate and safely extract the man from the wilderness.