Area "treacherous"

Californian woman found after twelve days in the wilderness

(Bild: kameraone)

A 24-year-old woman has been reported missing after a camping trip with friends in the Californian wilderness. Esmeralda Pineda was missing for twelve days before she was found emaciated and dehydrated. The police explained that the area in which the young woman disappeared was "treacherous by nature" and that her survival was nothing short of a miracle.

Pineda was camping with friends near Nevada City in the US state of California when she decided to return home to Sacramento alone on August 26. When her companions did not hear from her friend after saying goodbye, they alerted the emergency services. 

An extensive area had to be searched as a result. It was not until twelve days later that she was found - she was in a canyon near the Yuba River and Sweetland Creek in Nevada City, about 120 kilometers northeast of Sacramento, according to the police. 

The attempt to hike home alone after a camping trip nearly ended fatally for Esmeralda Pineda.(Bild: kameraone)

The search area was described by the police as "treacherous". Nevada County Sheriff's volunteer search and rescue personnel had to "rappel down into the canyon to search for her," according to police. Pineda needed immediate medical attention and was flown out of the canyon by helicopter, which took her to a hospital. 

First aider attests to "good survival instinct"
When she was discovered, Pineda was unable to speak, the first responders reported - so it is not yet known how she was able to survive in the wilderness for so long. "Who knows? I mean, maybe she had a good survival instinct," said Sgt. Dustin Moe, who found Pineda with another officer.