Calif. attorney survived on urine, cacti while stranded for five days in Joshua Tree desert

Paul Hanks, a 54-year-old attorney from Santee, Calif., survived for five days in Joshua Tree National Park after falling 20 feet. The hiker says he drank his own urine and ate cacti for nourishment. Paul Hanks, a 54-year-old attorney from Santee, Calif., survived for five days in Joshua Tree National Park after falling 20 feet. The hiker says he drank his own urine and ate cacti for nourishment. Photo: Joshua Tree Search And Rescue Photo: Joshua Tree Search And Rescue Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Calif. attorney survived on urine, cacti while stranded for five days in Joshua Tree desert 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Paul Hanks drove to Joshua Tree National Park last week to celebrate his 54th birthday. The California attorney intended to boulder for a few hours and return home. Then he fell. A few hours turned into five days alone in the unforgiving Southern California desert.

A seasoned climber, Hanks told KSHB he hasn't slipped in "45 years." But he did this time – about 20 feet down. Clad in just a T-shirt and shorts, with only a few hours' worth of water and energy packs, the hiker started crawling and yelling for help.

Rescuers found him Thursday. He shared his harrowing story on Monday from a hospital bed at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where he is recovering from a shattered left heel and broken pelvis.

RELATED: Man who went missing 6 nights in Yosemite shares survival tips on Facebook

The first night in the desert, with the temperature plummeting and sunlight waning, Hanks said he took shelter beneath a Joshua tree, covering himself with dirt for warmth.

Before slumber overtook him, his water supply ran out.

"By the very first night, I was drinking my own urine," he told CBS Los Angeles.

The challenges continued to stack up on the Santee, Calif. resident, who describes himself as an experienced hiker.

Later in the ordeal, Hanks fell again – 15 feet this time, with a head bump on the way down. The energy packs ran out, too, so he ate cactus for nourishment.

Throughout it all, Hanks said he continuously went in and out of consciousness, buoyed forth by the knowledge that "to quit out there is basically a death sentence," he said.

ALSO READ: California parents who housed kids in desert shack released

"Multiple times I had written myself off as dead," he told CBS. Then, "three angels appeared." Rescuers.

They transported Hanks to a hospital, where he was later reunited with his family. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.