In a tragic turn of events, the body of a woman believed to be a missing 50-year-old hiker was discovered on Monday in a wilderness area in San Diego. The hiker, identified as Diem Le Nguyen, had gone missing the previous day while hiking on the Nighthawk Trail in Black Mountain Open Space Park.

Nguyen had ventured out on the hike with a group of approximately 100 people around 8 a.m. on Sunday. As the hike progressed, the group decided to turn back due to the intense heat in the area. However, Nguyen chose to continue the trek alone towards the peak of the 4,048-foot-tall Black Mountain.

At around 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nguyen made a distress call to her relatives from the trail's end, expressing her overheated condition and the urgent need for water. Sadly, that was the last time anyone heard from her. Concerned, police were alerted, and a search-and-rescue operation was initiated.

On Monday morning, a search helicopter located a body in the same area where Nguyen had been hiking. Although the police could not immediately confirm if it was Nguyen's body, an autopsy is expected to provide conclusive identification. Consequently, the search and rescue mission has now shifted to a medical examination.

The San Diego area had been experiencing high temperatures over the weekend, with the National Weather Service having issued a heat advisory. Some members of Nguyen's hiking group had turned back due to the extreme heat, but Nguyen remained determined to reach the summit.

Police had previously released a photograph of Nguyen taken on the trail the day she disappeared, showing her flashing a peace sign while standing next to a trailhead sign. The authorities had also sought the public's assistance in locating Nguyen, urging anyone with information to contact 911.

As the search for Nguyen unfolded, another hiker's survival story emerged from the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California. Luke McClish, 34, had gone missing on June 11 during a solo hike and was eventually found after spending 10 days in the wilderness. McClish, who lost 30 pounds during his ordeal, credited his survival to drinking a gallon of creek water every day.

Efforts are now focused on determining the exact cause of Nguyen's tragic fate, providing closure to her family and friends. The hiking community is reminded of the importance of adhering to safety guidelines, especially during adverse weather conditions.