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Nante Niemi: Michigan boy, 8, who went missing during family camping trip found after two days

Second-Grader Nante Niemi reportedly went missing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Saturday, May 6

PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS, MICHIGAN: In a heartwarming incident, an eight-year-old boy, who went missing during a family camping trip, has been found. Nante Niemi reportedly went missing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Saturday, May 6, during a trip to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. He had reportedly gone to collect firewood at the time.

As per the Daily Mail, the schoolboy was discovered by a search team member on Monday afternoon, May 8. MSP Eighth District shared a series of tweets regarding the successful operation. It said, “Nante has been located safe and has been reunited with his family! A volunteer searching found him under/near a log, where'd he been the entire time, about two miles from the campsite. He appears to be in good health!”

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‘I’m realizing how lucky we are’

The tweets continued, “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,” adding, “He walked a trail yesterday (Sunday) and when he ran out of the trail, he figured the best thing to do was to just stop and wait. They offered to carry him out today, but he told the guys who found him that he wanted to walk!”

Niemi’s mother took to Facebook to express her gratitude toward rescue workers and the people who helped the family in difficult times. Jessica Buerger posted, “As things start to settle down and reality sets in instead of shock I’m realizing how lucky we are. Not just for Nante….the family that got here so fast to support us….friends that were on call for anything, the community, the complete strangers from all over the county praying and sending messages, first responders, police, firefighters, ems, forestry, DNR, coast guard, emergency response personal….every single person the reached out to us, dropped off food. Over 120 searchers. Over 120 people showed up and took their time under very tough conditions to look for our son. Thank you.”

'The entire school lit up in cheers’

Buerger then went on to say, “To say it’s humbling is an understatement. Thank you to everyone, absolutely everyone that helped in any way, reached out…I received 100s of messages. You are all amazing.”

She added, “Nante is healthy, full of great stories…this kid just amazes me. He made a shelter to sleep each night, making tracks purposely, cleared off dirty snow to eat the clean stuff. Screamed to the helicopters, heard the searchers yelling back, he fought to get back to us the entire time! Walking and finding a trail with markers and trying to follow them. This kid is amazing!”

The second grader’s school too was delighted to know he had been found and was safe. Steve Lombardo, the elementary school principal of the Hurley School District in Wisconsin, told ABC News, “We announced it to the entire school, and as my colleague said, it was like being at a big football game with our winning touchdown being scored. The entire school lit up in cheers, and everybody was just relieved and thankful.”