Hiker dies

'She nearly made it out': Calif. hiker dies during heat wave

By Olivia Harden

After a two-day rescue mission in search of a missing hiker, the body of a 50-year-old woman has been identified, officials said.

Early in the morning on June 23, Diem Le Nguyen went missing while hiking the Nighthawk Trail in Black Mountain Open Space Park in north San Diego with a group of around 100 people. Le Nguyen separated from the rest of the group to finish the hike, according to the San Diego Police Department. 

But a little after 10 a.m., Le Nguyen called her sister and told her she was “extremely hot and needed water,” SDPD spokesperson Lt. Daniel Meyer said at a news conference.

“That was the last anyone heard from Diem through today,” he said.

SDPD spent two days on the ground and in helicopters searching for Le Nguyen and began to receive reports of sightings that helped pinpoint the search and locate the body. The body was found off the trail but very close to a nearby street. “She was a quarter mile away from a population, from reaching a street, so she nearly made it out,” Meyer said. 

SDPD has completed its investigation and has handed the case to the San Diego County Office of the Medical Examiner, which confirmed to SFGATE that the body found belonged to Le Nguyen.

The hike took place during San Diego County’s first heat wave of the summer, when highs were expected to reach 114 degrees. Until 8 p.m. Sunday, the mountains were under an excessive heat watch. As temperatures continue to warm this summer, hikers should take extra caution when out on trails.

According to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, it’s important to bring more water to drink than expected, take breaks in shady areas, make sure mobile devices are charged, and wear loose, lightweight clothing. Pay attention to symptoms of heat exhaustion, including heavy sweating, weakness and dizziness, fainting, headaches, and cramps. These signs can indicate the potential for heat stroke.