When Ernie called Zach's grandmother back at the family's vacation condo, she didn't believe Ernie's devastating news at first. "She thought we were kidding. … She goes, 'Ernie, you all stop playing. You all get down the mountain.' And I was just screaming at her trying to convince her that we weren't joking. Finally she gave the phone to Zach's dad."

Zach's dad, Scott, initially thought that Ernie was teasing, too, but realized that this was no prank. After calling 911, the boys were found in about 90 minutes.

Ernie says that he thinks his prayer to God is what saved him. "I believe that he was there and this was part of his plan. Being on that mountain and remembering how helpless I was, I had no hope in myself. I was physically incapable of standing up. I believe in God and I believe that he has a plan [for] everybody."