A pair of ultra-runners missing since Sunday were found in the Cleveland National Forest.
A maintenance worker at a private retreat and camp in Santa Ana, Calif., spotted Fidel Diaz, 53, on Wednesday morning in Orange County. Later on Wednesday, Maria "Gina" Natera-Armenta, 34, turned up, too, at about 1:30 p.m. in a remote canyon about 5-6 miles away from where Diaz was found. Officials said Natera-Armenta was spotted by an Orange County Sheriff's department helicopter that had been searching for her. She was taking shade in a sheltered area during the 100-plus degree heat.
Diaz told investigators earlier on Wednesday that he and Maria Natera-Armenta ran out of water Sunday afternoon during a 30-mile run and split up to search for more. He said he never saw her again.
Police said Tuesday that Natera-Armenta's vehicle was found off the Ortega Highway in Orange County near Interstate 5. Her cell phone and keys were inside the vehicle.
Diaz and Natera-Armenta are a brother- and sister-in-law who often trained together for distances of up to 100 miles.
Jeremy Scarbrough, a Marine Gunnery Sergeant at MCAS Miramar, also helped search for Natera-Armenta. He calls his friend and fellow ultrarunner a strong competitor.
"She's tough, but wonderful,"Scarbrough said. "She was top female athlete at last year's San Diego 100 mile Endurance Run."
Scarbrough joined about two dozen other friends and family in the Santa Ana Mountains on Wednesday to search for Natera-Armenta. He calls it some of the toughest terrain he's ever seen.
"Gina and I ran a 50 mile race there and I'll just put it this way, it made me never want to run there again,"Scarbrough told NBC 7/39.
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Natera-Armenta's husband told reporters that he knew his wife would survive. "Never tell her she can't do anything because she'll prove you wrong 100 percent of the time,"Armando Armenta said.
