Boy Who Survived for 2 Days in State Park 'Prayed' He Wouldn't Be Lost for the 'Rest of My Life'

"I was worried about the cold and that he was by himself in the dark, crying," said the boy's mom

An 8-year-old boy who was missing in the Michigan wilderness for two days says he feared he might never be rescued.

Second grader Nante Niemi, of Wisconsin, disappeared Saturday during a family camping trip in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, according to a previous Michigan State Police (MSP) press release.

The boy was found in "good health" two days later underneath a log about two miles from the campsite, state police said.

In a new interview with ABC News, Nante said he got lost while trying to find his way back to camp in a remote portion of Michigan's upper peninsula, where he was camping with his grandfather and three uncles.

Related:8-Year-Old Missing for 48 Hours in Michigan State Park Found Safe After Sheltering Under Log

When they were out collecting firewood, the boy said he was instructed to "go back to camp," but he didn't know the way — and it was impossible to ask for directions because his uncle had "already turned around and left."

"I prayed for being found and not stuck out here for the rest of my life," Nante told the outlet.

RELATED VIDEO: Search Suspended for Man Who Went Overboard on Cruise Ship Headed to Hawaii: 'Our Family Is Heartbroken'

Nante's mother, Jessica Buerger, said family members called for help after failing to locate him during an initial search of the area.

"I was worried about the cold and that he was by himself in the dark, crying," she told ABC News. "You know, we were hoping that he wasn't walking around at night and hunkered down."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

So how did he survive? Nante confirmed that he "ate snow" while lost in the wilderness, something he said he does in the wintertime.

MSP previously said the boy also claimed to have covered himself up with branches and leaves for warmth "and also blanketed the log he was under."

At one point, Nante said a helicopter flew overhead, but seemingly did not see him. "I was waving my hands in the air and yelling at them to get their attention," the boy told ABC News.

Eventually, rescue came. Nante said he heard people calling his name before spotting someone for the first time in days.

Related:19-Year-Old Hiker Missing for 2 Days Rescued from Glacier National Park

This ordeal hasn't soured Nante's love for the outdoors, though. "I'm still going to go camping," he told the outlet.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.