National Park Service officials say Mary Joanna Gomez was found after a California Air National Guard aircraft spotted tree bark that spelled out S-O-S. Rangers said despite being cold, hungry and thirsty, Gomez was in good health.
She released the following statement to Action News:
"I am profoundly thankful to the National Park Service who worked tirelessly to rescue me and were so very kind when they did. I am hungry, a little dehydrated, and I have cuts and bruises, but I'm very fortunate to be in as good a condition as I am. My priority now is spending time with my family. Thank you for your support and coverage and for the time and space as I recover."
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Officials say Gomez was 3.5 miles away from her car, which had been discovered Sunday around midnight.
Family members say Gomez is a traveling nurse who was working in San Francisco and had left Wednesday to visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
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Gomez was supposed to return to work in San Francisco Friday night but never showed up, prompting the search. She has since been reunited with her family.