8-year-old who disappeared on camping trip survived days hiding under log, eating snow 

An eight-year-old boy that had been missing for two days in Michigan survived by hiding under a log and eating snow, authorities said on Monday. 

The Wisconsin boy, Nante Niemi, was found on Monday two miles away from a campground at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, where he was camping with his family. 

Nante disappeared at around 1 p.m. on Saturday after he wandered away from his family at the campsite in hopes to gather firewood. The boy walked an entire trail before he reached a dead end. 

"The terrain is very remote and hilly with a lot of standing water due to the time of the year," Michigan State Police wrote in a news release. "Several seasonal roads are still impassable because of snow depth."

Upon realizing that he was lost, Nante sought shelter underneath a log. He used “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,” police said. During those two nights, the temperatures dropped to below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 

His parents reported him missing to authorities, which launched a search party of more than 150 search and rescue personnel from the Michigan State Police and local police partners, along with K9s. Several law enforcement groups searched a 40 square mile area for Nante on the ground, by air, and by water. 

Eventually, Nante was found by the search party. When offered to be carried back to his parents, the eight-year-old said he wanted to finish his journey on foot. 

“They offered to carry him out today, but he told the guys who found him that he wanted to walk!” Michigan police said.

Niemi was taken to be inspected by a medical team and was found to be in good health. He has since been reunited with his family. 

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