A frantic search for a missing 8-year-old boy who went missing in a Michigan state park ended with the best possible result: his recovery.
Camping is an activity hundreds of thousands of people take part in every year in the United States. But venturing out in a remote, secluded section of the wilderness with limited resources does present potential problems. The family of 8-year-old Nante Niemi knows this all too well.
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Nante and his family were camping and enjoying the great outdoors at Michigan’s Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park when things took a bad turn. The second grader was out gathering firewood in early May when he disappeared, according to Today.
Nante’s disappearance happened around 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Dozens of search and rescue members scrambled to get organized and then beginning a search for the youngster. Over 150 people assisted in the search for the young man, according to NBC News.
Crews frantically searched for Nante by any means necessary. They looked by air, land and even water, Today reports.
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The child used what he had around him in the forest to survive during his time alone. Nante covered himself with branches and leaves in order to stay warm. For food and to keep up his strength, Nante ate snow.
A rescuer found Nante after 48 hours.
The man who found the young man was a familiar face to Nante – 18-year-old Eli Talsma. In an interview, Eli recalled the moment he came across the lost child.
“And I see is his little white sweatshirt,” Eli said. “And he goes, ‘Eli?’ And I just ran up over to him and I gave him the biggest hug and I was so relieved once I saw him.”
It's a miracle the child was found at all. Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park is very remote and hilly, with more than 60,000 acres. Cell service in the state park is virtually nonexistent, according to NBC TV 6.
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“Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs forth now. Don’t you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” - Isaiah 43:19
h/t: Today, NBC TV6 & YouTube.com/NBCNews
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