Missing New Zealand tramper found injured in California forest

Kiwi tramper Claire Nelson has been found badly injured in a national park in California.
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Kiwi tramper Claire Nelson has been found badly injured in a national park in California.

A New Zealand woman who went missing in California while tramping has been found alive with a shattered pelvis.

Claire Nelson, 36, was found with a shattered pelvis in Joshua Tree National Park by US Park Rangers.

A searching helicopter found the woman shortly before 3pm on May 25, local time, according to the park's public information officer George Land.

KESQ News reported Nelson was found badly injured and had been airlifted to hospital for treatment. 

She was reportedly found after being able to make a signal, which caught the attention of the helicopter.

Nelson last contacted friends about her intention to hike to Lost Palms Oasis on Tuesday May 22, but failed to return from the tramp on Wednesday. 

She was reported missing on Friday, after her friends hadn't heard from her for two days, according to the Joshua Tree National Park.

Rangers had been looking for her in the park, between the Mojave and Colorado deserts. ​

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