14-Year-Old Survives Night in Utah Canyon After Getting Separated from Family: 'I Was So Scared'

The Narrows in Zion National Park.Photo:Getty Images

Getty Images

A 14-year-old girl is opening up about the terror she felt after becoming separated from her family at a national park in Utah—and having to spend the night alone.

Her mother said that each group initially assumed she was with the others until they met and realized she wasn’t with either of them.

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

The National Park Service was notified, according to Aurelia, but they couldn’t begin a search until the following morning.

“It was getting dark and nobody was coming. So I just kind of, I got my blanket out my little poncho and I kind of hunkered down,” the teen told the outlet. “I ended up just sleeping on a little mud bank. The driest I could find.”

“I was trying to stay put because that’s what I had been told,” she added. “But I was so scared.”

While trying to fall asleep that night, Aurelia’s mind kept wandering to the worst-case scenario, she told thelocal radio station KSL NewsRadio. But she said her husband was confident that their daughter would be found safe.

“We were very glad that our search and rescue team was able to make contact with them this morning and escort them the rest of the way down that route,” Shafer added.

The National Park Service did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

source: people.com