Hikers rescued after rainstorm
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Two hikers who became lost Saturday evening in the Santa Ana Mountains were rescued Sunday afternoon without injuries, despite spending the night in the forest during a rainstorm, authorities said.
Serena Neff, 24, of Dana Point and Carter McCoy, 33, of San Clemente called for help from Neff’s cellphone about 5:45 p.m. Saturday, saying they had hiked into Hot Springs Canyon from the Lazy W Ranch off the Ortega Highway and could not find their way back.
But phone service in the canyon was spotty and their contact with authorities was sporadic.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department sent two search-and-rescue teams into the forest to search on foot overnight, but helicopters were of limited use because of the storm, Lt. Dan Dwyer said.
The hikers were found about 1:15 p.m. Sunday after the rains cleared, and helicopters airlifted the hikers and the rescue teams to safety.
-- Christian Berthelsen
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