A hiker seeking help for his girlfriend after she fell ill has been found dead near a trail in California.
Tim Sgrignoli, 29, was hiking in the area of Gaviota Peak, a 2,400ft peak in the Santa Ynez Mountains, when he disappeared on Sunday.
Sgrignoli, a physician, sought help and provided water to his girlfriend, who was suffering from mild heat exhaustion, a Santa Barbara County fire department official said.
His girlfriend, who has not been named, was rescued later that day but Mr Sgrignoli did not return.
Rescuers, helicopters, drones and dogs searched for the hiker until Thursday morning, when his body was found between the Trespass Trail and nearby Highway 101 Santa Barbara, a sheriff’s spokesman said.
His cause of death is unknown, but no foul play is suspected and the heat is believed to have contributed.
Temperatures in the mountains reached 45.5 degrees Celsius (114 degrees Celsius) on Sunday afternoon as authorities searched for Mr Sgrignoli in a settlement “heat dome” in California.
