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Couple who went hiking in triple-digit heat found dead in the Mojave Desert

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Two hikers found dead in blistering heat in Southern California’s Mojave Desert were identified as a husband and wife from Yorba Linda, authorities said Sunday.

The couple were discovered Saturday near Amboy Crater, an extinct cinder cone volcano.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., Kathie Barber, 58, called police saying she was unable to find her husband, with whom she had been hiking since 11 a.m., according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

She told authorities she had run out of water and that her husband, 60-year-old Gen Miake, had a heart condition.

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A helicopter search team went looking for the pair after spotting their car parked in the Amboy Crater trailhead lot.

The couple were spotted about a mile or two east of the trailhead and appeared unresponsive, officials said.

They were 100 yards from each other in the open desert with no shade. Officials estimated the temperature outside was 113 degrees.

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The crew flew back to the trailhead to pick up a rescuer with the San Bernardino County Fire Department for a second assessment of the couple. Both hikers were pronounced dead at the scene.

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UPDATES:

10:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details, including the couple’s identity.

This article was originally published at 12:10 p.m.

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