Hiker found alive after missing in Fresno County wilderness for 9 days

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Sunday, August 30, 2015
Hiker found alive after missing for 9 days
A hiker is recovering in the hospital after surviving in the Fresno County wilderness for nine days.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A hiker is recovering in the hospital after surviving in the Fresno County wilderness for nine days.

Miyuki Harwood, 62, of Orangevale went missing after getting separated from a hiking group in remote Fresno County. Since Aug. 20, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office says they spent thousands of hours searching for her. Search and rescue teams located her at about 9 a.m. Saturday.

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"She heard voices, and she grabbed a whistle that she had with her and blew her whistle, and that alerted the rescuers on the ground to be able to find her," California Highway Patrol paramedic Rusty Hotchkiss said.

A CHP helicopter flew Harwood to Community Regional Medical Center in Downtown Fresno on Saturday.

Sheriff Margaret Mims says Harwood has broken bones but couldn't disclose the extent of her injuries. However, Mims says Harwood is grateful that people were looking for her and searching for her. Investigators are going to allow her to recover before interviewing her about the situation.