A missing California hiker spent 2 days alone in the wilderness with his dog. Then the biologists heard his cry for help

Two biologists were taking water samples in the San Antonio Reservoir when they heard a noise, which turned out to be that of missing hiker Alex Stecher.

A man missing for nearly 48 hours in California's Bay Area after going on a hike has been found safe, authorities said.

On the morning of Friday, May 17, hiker Alex Stecher, 54, set out on an overnight trip — accompanied by his dog Apollo — through the Ohlone Wilderness, about 50 miles from San Francisco, according to SFGate.

Stecher, of Oakland, Calif., and his bull terrier mix were scheduled to travel from Sunol Regional Wilderness to Del Valle Regional Park and meet a car at the designated pickup time, 5 p.m., Saturday, May 18 . Just hours later they failed to show up and Stecher was reported missing, KABC-TV reported.

Although the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department (EBRPD) launched a “large-scale search” using both police and fire crews, including the Search Unit and Alameda County Sheriff's Office Rescue Team, Alameda County Fire Department and CalFire, the department wrote in a statement. According to a press release, the hiker and his dog had still not been found as of Sunday, May 19.

Authorities began turning to the public for help locating Stecher, sharing photos on Facebook and Instagram of Apollo and the man's last known outfit.

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A day later, on Monday, May 20, two biologists collecting water samples in the San Antonio Reservoir — about 17 miles from where Stecher was supposed to end his journey — heard a cry for help.

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San Francisco Public Utilities Commission biologist Nick Hood told NBC Bay Area they were on a boat when they heard a noise in the distance and quickly realized it was a call help.

“We turned off the engine again and started yelling to each other, 'Hey, is anyone there?' and we got an answer,” Hood said. “And then I saw Alex.”

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“We were in the right place at the right time,” Hood added.

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“Alex was located safely today,” EBRPD confirmed on May 20. “Thank you to all our staff, as well as our brother and sister agencies who have assisted in the search over the past few days.”

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