A hiker who went to go and find help for his girlfriend after she became ill has been found dead near a trail in California.

Tim Sgrignoli, 29, was hiking in the Gaviota Peak area, a 2,400ft summit in the Santa Ynez Mountains, when he disappeared on Sunday.

Mr Sgrignoli, a doctor, had gone to find help and water for his girlfriend, who had mild heat exhaustion, a Santa Barbara County fire department official said.

His girlfriend, who has not been named, was rescued later that day but Mr Sgrignoli did not return.

Rescuers, helicopters, drones and dogs searched for the hiker until Thursday morning, when his body was found at between Trespass Trail and Highway 101 nearby Santa Barbara, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said.

His cause of death is unknown, but no foul play is suspected and the heat is expected to have contributed.

Temperatures in the mountains reached 45.5C (114F) on Sunday afternoon as the authorities searched for Mr Sgrignoli during a “heat dome” that settled over California.