Arkansas State University says an American student and two Japanese students who went missing inside of a cave have been found alive.
The university said in a statement late Thursday afternoon that rescue teams had located 25-year-old Casey Sherwood, 19-year-old Daiki Itoh and 18-year-old Daisuke Takagi.
Sherwood's wife had reported the three missing Wednesday night.
Crews had been searching for the students in Blowing Cave near Cushman, 110 miles north of Little Rock.
Independence County Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Glen Willis told KAIT-TV the three were found OK 30 minutes from the entrance of the cave.
Casey Sherwood told KATV-TV that they kept warm overnight by staying close. He also said they regularly shouted for help when they realized they were lost.
Sherwood said he felt a little bit of panic when he realized they were lost. The three decided to stay in place to not get lost further.
Sherwood is from Jonesboro, Arkansas. Itoh is from Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, and Takagi is from Kawagoe Hi-who, Hyogo. Sherwood is from Jonesboro, Arkansas. Itoh is from Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, and Takagi is from Kawagoe Hi-who, Hyogo.
Copyright 2016 KUAR
