Three Texas teens get lost in woods

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Emergency crews located three young teenage boys after the group lost their way on the Barton Creek Greenbelt near Lost Creek Boulevard.

The group lives in the area and said they often swim in the creek, but a 13-year-old boy called his mother from his cell phone around 7 p.m. Friday and told her he did not recognize his surroundings.

They typically follow the creek but decided to take another trail, and they could not hear the water anymore or see the backs of any homes. The mother told her son to call 911 because search crews would be able to find them faster than she could.

A man walking his dog ran across the three friends and waited with them until EMS crews met up with them. The boys, who attend West Ridge Middle School , walked out together looking exhausted at 8:30 p.m.

One of the boys had his shoe off and had a blister on his foot treated.  

The Westlake and Oak Hill fire departments responded to the call, along with Austin-Travis County EMS . They said wilderness rescue calls pick up in the summer when more people start using the trails.

Rescue officials advised that having a cell phone is a good piece of equipment to keep on hand, along with plenty of water in case a trip on the trail takes longer than expected.