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Lost Charlotte-area hikers rescued from frigid NC mountains

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. — Rescuers have found two hikers missing for more than a day in the frigid North Carolina mountains without food and water and only a small fire for warmth.

The North Carolina Emergency Response Team said in a news release that a helicopter using a tool that can detect heat found the hikers around 5 p.m. Saturday in the Shining Rock Wilderness area about 25 miles southwest of Asheville.

Authorities said the hikers, who were from the Charlotte-area, had called 911 on Friday and again Saturday morning, saying their situation was getting dire.

David Crockett called 911 Saturday morning, saying he wasn't sure if he and his friend, Sultan Alraddadi, would survive 'another night. The pair got lost while hiking in Haywood County Friday.

They started a fire, used tree limbs for shelter and melted snow for water.

"We will not last through tonight. There's no way," Crockett said in the 911 call. "We weren't prepared to be out here, we're cold."

The helicopter that eventually found them couldn't fly until the storm that dumped about 7 inches of snow in the area cleared.

It took rescuers about two hours to get to the men. They were taken to the hospital, and authorities said they were recovering.