There is a reason why this fence is here -- to protect folks from falling off the steep cliff on the other side. A New Jersey man learned that lesson the hard way on Monday, when he reportedly side-stepped caution, and lost his footing.
From refuge to rescue, one man's need for solitude turned into a five-hour Odyssey back to safety.
Det. Thomas Rossi, Palisades Interstate Pkwy. Police: "I saw the back of his head, and part of his body down about 100 feet or more and he was conscious. He said his leg hurt."
Around 9:30 Monday morning, Nick Porreca from New Jersey came to the Alpine lookout spot along the Palisades Parkway. We are told he recently lost a close family member, and would escape to a secluded spot to drown his grief in beer. Four cans later Porreca, in his 20s, slipped off the rock, plummeting at least 100 feet.
He reportedly tried to climb back to the top, but now with a broken ankle, and facing a wall of crumbling rock and loose dirt he was trapped. Fortunately, three joggers heard his remote cries for help, and an hour later, Detective Lt. Nelson Pagan lowered himself down by rope top the victim.
Det. Lt. Nelson Pagan, Palisades Interstate Pkwy. Police: "I tied him to me, so he wouldn't fall any further. His feet were just holding on to one tree and beyond that tree was another 75 to 80-foot drop."
For the next four hours, Pagan tried to keep Porreca from going into shock, while rescue teams figured out how best to hoist the 200-pound victim back to solid ground. Perhaps the fellow's greatest injury, though, was to his pride. He apparently asked to be completely covered under a sheet to protect his identity.
Det. Lt. Nelson Pagan: "It's just an accidental thing. He feels very foolish, and remorseful about what he did."
Now, in addition to his wounded pride and busted ankle, Porreca faces two summonses -- one for creating a hazardous situation, and the other for reportedly drinking alcohol in a prohibited area.
