A search party searching for a missing hiker in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California got an unexpected surprise when they encountered none other than Jay Leno. And thankfully, they finally found their missing person.
The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team posted on Facebook earlier this week that on Saturday, Aug. 17, a “very fit and experienced” 78-year-old hiker identified as “Mr. Yang” went with a group hiking trip to the summit of Mt. Waterman, just north of Los Angeles. However, when the rest of the group returned to the parking lot, they realized he was no longer with the group.
Mr. Yang was reported missing around 3 p.m. and search and rescue teams were set up to look for him, walking “almost everywhere” for the next nearly 12 hours. When they found nothing, the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team was called in early Sunday morning to assist in the search.
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“That morning, we were ready and waiting with new teams from each team, search dogs, and other resources,” the post continued. “After completing our first mission, we descended on Newcomb’s Ranch where Jay and his friends had met up for a ride. Unfortunately, they had not seen our missing hiker, but they were grateful for our efforts.”
Among the photos the team shared of the search efforts were photos of the group posing with Leno, who was, naturally, wearing his typical uniform of jeans on jeans.
The story had a happy ending. After around eight hours of searching and with the help of local hikers, the team found Mr Yang, “healthy but dehydrated”. In total, he had spent around 30 hours in the wilderness and was airlifted to safety and reunited with his family.