Woman Dies While Hiking In Santa Monica Mountains

MALIBU, CA — A woman in her 70s hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu died after she became separated from her group, authorities said Wednesday morning.

Deputies responded to a hiking trail near the Circle X Ranch at 12896 Yerba Buena Rd. in Ventura County about 2:35 p.m. Tuesday and were told the woman had been missing for at least two hours, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene after a deputy found her body and gave her CPR, the sheriff's department said.

A preliminary investigation determined the woman died from a heat-related illness and foul play was not suspected, authorities told the Ventura County Star.

The name of the victim was not disclosed.

City News Service contributed to this post