During the recent extreme temperatures in San Diego, a woman went missing while hiking with a group. Unfortunately, authorities have now confirmed that the search for her has ended with the discovery of her body.
According to the San Diego Police Department, Diem Le Nguyen, a 50-year-old woman, was reported missing on Sunday morning after getting separated from her hiking group of approximately 100 individuals while they were trekking the Nighthawk Trail in Black Mountain Open Space Park in northern San Diego.
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Lieutenant Daniel Meyer, a spokesperson for the San Diego Police Department, reported on Monday that during a search helicopter’s scan of the hiking area where Nguyen had gone missing, a body was spotted.
According to Lieutenant Meyer, the body of a female was discovered off the trail at 9:15 am, approximately a quarter mile from an intersection. The medical examiner will assess the body to determine the cause of death and identity, but law enforcement officials have reason to believe that the female is Ms. Diem.
During a news conference on Monday, Lieutenant Meyer reported that Nguyen and her hiking group began their trek on Sunday morning at approximately 8am. However, when they were halfway up the mountain, a number of members opted to turn back and head home.
According to a report by NBC San Diego, a fundraising hike was organized on Black Mountain to support the Build a School Foundation. The group of hikers was massive and participated in the event to raise funds for the cause.
According to Meyer, the woman persevered and decided to push through with her hike to the peak of Black Mountain despite being alone. She did so without assistance from anyone else.
According to the outlet, Jimmy Thai, the organizer of the fundraising hike, expressed that everyone is still in a state of shock and disbelief regarding what just occurred.
Nguyen’s family received a phone call from her, expressing distress, just after 10 am. She informed them that she had reached the end of the trail and urgently needed water due to feeling very hot. This was the final communication from Nguyen, according to Meyer.
On Sunday, San Diego residents were cautioned by the National Weather Service to be prepared for hot conditions. Some areas were expected to experience temperatures in the low 90Fs.
Around 11:30am, authorities, along with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s helicopter, swiftly arrived at the scene and initiated a search-and-rescue operation that involved the use of drones and K9s.
According to the authorities, Nguyen was last seen wearing a black top with a pink heart on it, paired with black pants, a sun hat, sunglasses, and carrying a backpack at the time of her disappearance.
Throughout the night, search and rescue teams tirelessly scoured the area, taking to the air on seven separate flights and dedicating a total of five hours to the search effort. Despite their best efforts, it wasn’t until 9:15am on Monday morning that they finally made a breakthrough.
Although the medical examiner has not yet confirmed whether the discovered body belongs to Nguyen, relatives have already expressed their devastation upon hearing the news.
NBC San Diego spoke to William Do, a family member who was searching for Nguyen on the trail when he received the heartbreaking news. “Losing someone is not easy, and it’s just not today,” Do shared with the news outlet.
Do expressed disbelief as he exclaimed, “I still can’t believe it.”
Nguyen’s dedication to her family and friends is unwavering, as reported by Do. She is a mother to three adult children and also serves the US Navy.
According to Do, it is important for people to remember that the person in question is a great individual who consistently prioritizes others before herself. She is known for always taking care of her loved ones before anything else.
According to Do, Nguyen is known for being a meticulous individual, so it came as a surprise when she ran out of water during her recent outing. He stated, “She always prepares diligently for her activities.”
