A Bermudian who was reported missing in California has been found in generally good health, police have reported.

Tiffany Slaton was discovered one day before her birthday by the owner of a resort — 45 miles from where she was last seen — when he was checking his property.

It came just after officials announced that the search for the 27-year-old was scaled back after “zero information” was uncovered since she was reported missing on April 29.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office posted online that Ms Slaton, from Jeffersonville, Georgia, was found yesterday afternoon near Lake Edison in Fresno County.

It explained: “The owner of Vermilion Valley Resort was checking on his property near the lake when he found one of his cabins was occupied by a woman.

“He was aware of an ongoing search for a missing woman and she matched the description.

“The owner immediately contacted the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office to report his discovery.”

Christopher Michael Gutierrez, the resort owner, had left the cabin open in the event a lost hiker needed shelter.

“Deputies travelled up to Kaiser Pass Road and met with the owner, who had driven Tiffany out to the staging point,” Fresno County Sheriff’s office said.

It added: “Deputies confirmed it to be Tiffany and medics arrived with an ambulance to examine her.

“She was dehydrated, but was otherwise in good condition. Medics transported her to a hospital for further treatment and observation.”

On its Facebook page, the Vermilion Valley Resort said the business was happy that Ms Slaton was safely located.

It said: “Tiffany is safe. It is amazing what she went through. It is incredible what she has accomplished.”

Mr Gutierrez was making checks at the resort when he saw the door to the cabin open, he told Bermuda Broadcasting.

He said: “I see some shoes down there and I’m like, ”OK, it’s just a hiker who decided to hold out from the blizzard we had that previous night.

“Tiffany pops out, didn’t say a word, just ran up and all she wanted was a hug. It was a pretty surreal moment and that’s when I realise who she was.

“This girl was safe for a reason.”

Tony Botti, a public information officer for the Fresno County Sheriff’s office, said officials were happy that Ms Slaton was located.

Bobby Slaton, who appeared alongside his wife, Fredrina, during an interview with Mr Botti, said: “We are extremely excited and happy to hear the news that my daughter is now safe.

“We are more happy that she is safe than anything else because a ton of weight has been lifted.”

He said that Tiffany’s birthday is tomorrow, his is next week and his son’s later this month.

Mr Slaton added: “It is a wonderful birthday gift”.

The Slatons thanked the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the community and search-and-rescue teams for their efforts.

Mr Slaton said he and his wife were completing last-minute shopping to prepare to travel to Fresno from Georgia when they received the “good” news.

He said: “To get a phone call that Tiffany is going fine, it’s hard to contain your tears and your excitement.”

Mrs Slaton said when she heard the news “I just grabbed someone and I said, ‘Can I hug you?’ ”

Mr Slaton, who broke down during the interview, said his daughter called him on her way down from the mountainous area where she was found.

He said during the call “tears started flowing because I haven’t heard from my baby”.

Mr Slaton added: “I know she is well over the baby stage but she is going to always be my baby just like my other children.”

His wife said that on Mother’s Day she felt “terrible” and she noted that it was difficult to spend the day when she didn’t know of her daughter’s whereabouts.

Mrs Slaton told The Royal Gazette that the couple were on their way to California and that they were “excited”.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, she said that when she spoke to her daughter on Wednesday, she relayed that she was unaware a search was on to find her.

Mrs Slaton said people from all across the US were concerned and were working tirelessly to determine her daughter’s whereabouts.

She added: “Tiffany you are loved beyond measure, we love you, your community loves you, you are loved, don’t ever forget it.

“We thank you, the community, that helped to find Tiffany through prayer, well wishes, we take it all. Thank you so much.”

The mother said that Mr Gutierrez’s gesture to leave the cabin open “turned into something so huge” as she continued to offer words of appreciation.

Ms Slaton represented the island at archery in 2017 and the National Archery Association of Bermuda expressed relief that she was found safe.

A spokesman said: “We have been following the story from the news and we are glad that Tiffany was found in good health.”

He said although she has been off island for some time, she keeps in touch with members of the body.

Ms Slaton was known to be camping alone in the Huntington Lake area of the Sierra Nevada mountains on April 20.

Her family reported her missing on April 29 after not hearing from her for the past nine days.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office started searching for Ms Slaton and distributing alerts to the public to be on the lookout for her.

It said the community provided several tips, including confirmation that Ms Slaton was seen at Huntington Lake on April 20 and near the old Cressman’s General Store near Shaver Lake on April 24 but there were no sightings of her until Wednesday.

Detectives were making arrangements to meet Ms Slaton on Thursday.