Two cousins who were rescued earlier this week after getting lost are sharing their story of being stranded in the woods for 15 hours.
Elya Munro, 9, and Ember Greatrix, 11, were playing a game similar to 鈥渉ide and seek鈥� in the woods on Monday near their family cottage in Greater Madawaska, when they realized they had lost their way.
"We went over there into that forest and we went in deep, a bit too deep," Greatrix told CTV Ottawa on Friday.
Munro said that they feared they wouldn't be able to find their way back to the cottage.
As the girls continued to walk around the woods, it started to get dark, and with the night came the cold.
"Ember was really cold in the night," Munro said, adding that her older cousin leaned on her shoulder for support. "She was really just shaking."
At one point, the girls even tried to swim back to what they believed might have been the cottage, but stopped.
"We were scared. I was hungry; I was thirsty," Greatrix said. "I was really, really cold 鈥� my pyjamas were all dirty because we were wet."
Their disappearance sparked a massive search, involving a canine unit, an emergency response team and an OPP helicopter.
The girls' parents said the ordeal was difficult for the entire family.
Greatrix's mother, Kristie Ripley, said she feared for the worst while the two were missing. "I even wondered if maybe somebody could have taken them," she said. "Your mind just goes crazy."
Munro's mother, Wanda Munro, said it was hard knowing there wasn't much more they could do to find the girls. "Waiting was the hardest part 鈥� the helplessness, not being able to do anything," she said.
But the girls said they were determined to remain brave. "We didn't want to be in there crying. We wanted to be getting out strong," Greatrix said.
Eventually the two girls were located a kilometre-and-a-half into the bush. They were found in good health and were brought out of the woods on an ATV, accompanied by first responders.
"We were so excited to get out of that bush," Greatrix said.
The girls have made thank you cards and notes to give to those who helped with the search.
They also said they've learned some important safety tips: The next time they go out to play in the woods they'll remember to bring a whistle, and if they get lost they'll stay in one place.
With a report by CTV Ottawa's Claudia Cautillo
