Two boys lost in Kentucky wilderness found

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Two young cousins who wandered away from a campground in the Red River Gorge area of Kentucky. setting a search in the rugged terrain, were found safe Friday afternoon, reports CBS affiliate WKYT.

One boy was identified as 5-year-old Michael Esposito of Batavia, Ohio. His cousin, 7-year-old Adrian Ross, is from Indiana, State Police Trooper Joe Veeneman said.

The boys had gone to the campsite with the younger boy's father and a grandfather of both boys, Veeneman said. The men were setting up the campsite when the boys disappeared, he said. The men and boys had gone ahead of other family members who were to join them, he said.

Search teams combed the woods through the night, the trooper said.

Overnight lows dipped into the mid-50s.

At least nine search and rescue agencies assisted in the search, the trooper said. Searchers used dogs to try to track the boys.

The official who headed up the search was just in the Gorge with his own two boys a few weeks ago.

"I think it probably touches everybody," Lexington Fire Department Maj. Chris Ward said. "I have two boys at home. We were just up here three weeks ago hiking the Gorge with my Boy Scout troop, so kinda familiar with the area. I think this touches everybody out here."

Eight Lexington firefighters showed up Friday to join the search after the local sheriff's office was notified about 6 p.m. EDT Thursday that the boys had disappeared.

Koomer Ridge is a primitive camping area with multiple camping spots. Overall, it's a very large area within the Red River Gorge.