LOS ANGELES, 8:17 p.m. PST January 2, 2003 - An injured man who apparently had been stranded in rugged Griffith Park for several days after a biking accident was lifted to safety Thursday by a Fire Department helicopter.

The man, who was not immediately identified, was hoisted into the helicopter shortly before 11 a.m. and flown to County-USC Medical Center. The man is reportedly undergoing a CAT scan and additional tests as of Thursday afternoon.

The 40-year-old mountain biker told firefighters that he had been stranded for four days in the hills near Griffith Park.

"He was in an out of consciousness," Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said. "If he had gone another day, he would have been close to death."

"He was fairly talkative, still confused and lethargic," said L.A. City Fire Paramedic Roberto Ledesma who was lowered into down to rescue the man.

The condition of a 10-inch laceration on his forehead and blood on his knees indicated he had been injured for a number of days and had crawled some distance through the woods, Humphrey said.

He told rescuers he was riding a mountain bike, but the bike was not immediately found, Humphrey said.

Authorities received reports of a man stranded on the north side of the 4,107-acre wilderness park shortly before 9:30 a.m., Humphrey said.

About 40 firefighters and two helicopters arrived at the scene near Forest Lawn Cemetery, where they spotted the man waving at them, Humphrey said. His cries for help were heard Thursday morning by workers at nearby Forest Lawn.

The man is in critical but stable condition and is suffering from hypothermia, according to NBC4. The man sustained multiple abrasions over his body, facial lacerations and possible head injuries.

The man's name has not been released.