A California search and rescue team found an elderly hiker who had been missing for 30 hours — and they happened to run into TV legend Jay Leno along the way.
Ki Soo Yang, a “very fit, experienced, and prepared 78-year-old hiker,” was reported missing on Saturday after he got separated from his group while climbing Mount Waterman in Los Angeles County, officials said.
The San Dimas Mountain Rescue crew, who was called in to assist 12 hours into the search, loaded up Sunday morning and landed at Newcomb’s Ranch — where Leno and his pals were meeting up for a drive.
“Unfortunately, they hadn’t seen our missing hiker but they were grateful for our efforts,” the rescue team said.
The former “Tonight Show” host posed for a picture with some of the rescuers in front of a bright yellow sports car before they continued looking for Yang.
After about another eight hours of hiking, Yang was found safe but dehydrated.
They reached Yang after a good Samaritan ran into him between Mount Waterman and Twin Peaks.
The good Samaritan then contacted the Crescenta Valley Station. Yang was airlifted to a local hospital where he was reunited with his family, officials said.
He spent a total of 30 hours in the Angeles National Forest after he was reported missing to the Crescenta Valley station on 3 p.m. Saturday, according to Montrose Search and Rescue.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved in the search, especially the good Samaritan whose quick thinking and action played a critical role in this rescue,” the SAR team said.
