8-Year-Old Boy Lost In Michigan Wilderness Survived On Melted Snow
An 8-year-old boy lost in the Michigan wilderness miraculously survived for two days by eating melted snow and using branches and leaves for warmth.
According to a press release from the Michigan State Police, 8-year-old Nante Niemi was camping with his family at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the Upper Peninsula when he went missing.
He reportedly walked off to look for firewood when he went missing on Saturday May 6, around 1:00 p.m.
On May 8, “More than 150 search and rescue personnel from MSP and local police partners, including nine K9s” were searching the roughly 40 square mile area for Nante. The search team consisted of people on foot, people in the air, and people in bodies of water in the area.
The press release noted, “The terrain is very remote and hilly with a lot of standing water due to the time of the year. Several seasonal roads are still impassable because of snow depth.”
News Release – State Police Leads Search Efforts for 8-Year-Old Boy Missing in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Parkhttps://t.co/3WOkP6Pxxy https://t.co/v2MxVmy1B3 pic.twitter.com/SwDGRfculH
— MSP Eighth District (@MSPEighthDist) May 8, 2023
Amazingly, the search efforts worked a volunteer found Nante under a log around two miles from his campsite. He’s since been safely reunited with his family.
The Michigan State Police shared about the discovery on Twitter, explaining that the 8-year-old survived the harsh environment using quick-thinking survival skills.
A number of you have asked how Nante survived in the woods. Lieutenant Wickstrom says the boy told them he covered up with branches and leaves for warmth and also blanketed the log he was under. He didn’t have any food but ate clean snow for hydration.
CONT’D
— MSP Eighth District (@MSPEighthDist) May 8, 2023
They wrote, “he covered up with branches and leaves for warmth and also blanketed the log he was under. He didn’t have any food but ate clean snow for hydration.”
They also noted that when he realized he was lost, “he figured the best thing to do was to just stop and wait.” What a smart kid!
You can see more in the news video below:
