Missing sisters found alive in California woods

Caroline Carrico, 5 and Leia Carrico, 8 were found Sunday 3 km from their home in California's Humboldt County.

Sisters Caroline Carrico, 5 and Leia Carrico, 8 were found Sunday in the California woods, 44 hours after they were reported missing.

The girls were last seen at their home in California's Humboldt county Friday afternoon.

Rescuers are calling their safe return a "miracle".

"This was rugged territory, this is an extreme environment and how they were out there for 44 hours is pretty amazing but it shows a resilience of people that actually grew up in this community," County Sheriff William Honsal said during a Sunday news conference.

"The information we gathered is that they were trained ... for outdoor survival and we believe that that did play a part (in remaining safe), but we're only speculating right now."

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Twenty-one agencies and more than 200 volunteers showed up to search for the girls within hours of the news breaking.

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Some came from eight hours away to lend a hand.

The Carrico sisters told first responders they got lost while following a deer trail and survived by drinking water from huckleberry leaves.

They were found about 3 km from their home, uninjured and in "good spirits" Honsal said, despite being dehydrated and cold.

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