Why いた is used instead of いる here? [duplicate]

Question

Why いた is used instead of いる in the dialogue below?

なんでえ
生{い}きてたのか
楓{かえで}ばばあ。

Answer 1

なんで生きてたのか　ー＞　Why you lived (~after a fight)? (~ How did you survived?)

なんで生きているのかー＞　Why you still living? (~ How come you are still alive?)

Your confusion is caused by this:

てた・ていた　are both the same, the former being a different way to speak it.

（Compare to English wanna＝want to・don't=do not）