An 8-year-old boy was rescued from a Michigan state park after eating snow and hiding under a log for two days, police said.

CNN
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A missing 8-year-old boy who survived two days of snow in a Michigan state park was found sheltering under a log Monday, state police said.

Nante Niemi went missing Saturday afternoon while gathering firewood for her family’s campsite in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in northwest Michigan, prompting a massive search and rescue effort. Michigan State Police said in a statement that a rescue effort was underway to locate the child in Wisconsin.

More than 150 National and local police officers searched remote and mountainous areas by foot, air and water, the statement said, noting that several roads were still impassable due to heavy snow.

The boy was walking on a trail Sunday, but eventually ran out, State Police Upper Peninsula said tweeted.

“He thought the best thing to do was stop and wait,” police said.

In order to survive, Niemi “covered himself with branches and leaves for warmth and covered the logs he was under. He had no food but ate fresh snow to stay hydrated,” police tweeted.

Police said Niemi was found Monday afternoon by search party volunteers about two miles from the camp. He is in good health, reunited with his family.

Niemi’s friend, Eli Talsma, who was part of the rescue team that found the boy, recalled hearing the search team yell that they had found him, the report said. CNN affiliate WLUC.

“As soon as I heard that, I grabbed my bag that was on the floor and started running towards it,” Talsma told WLUC. “I ran to him and gave him a big hug. I was relieved to see him.

Niemi is a second-grader from Hurley, Wis., the Hurley School District told CNN.

“While our emotions are very high at this time, we want to acknowledge the outpouring of love and support we have received over the past few days,” the school district said in a Facebook post following the boy’s discovery.