HALIFAX (CBS) – Two 12-year-old boys were rescued after getting stuck in a swamp in Halifax Friday evening. A police helicopter found the boys about 1/4 mile into the swamp by tracking a cell phone that they had.

Rescuers transport one of two boys to an awaiting ambulance. (Photo by David G. Curran)

The boys had been out playing behind their home when they got lost.

Two Halifax Police sergeants were the first to reach the pair.

“They were actually barefoot at the time,” says Halifax Police Sgt. Patrick Sterling. “Their sneakers got pulled off in the mud and waters.”

The boys, who were cold and wet, were in the swamp near Hemlock Lane for about three hours in extremely cold temperatures.

“We were up to our knees in water,” says Sgt. Ted Broderick.

Firefighters also responded and were able to get the boys into survival suits and reunite them with their parents.

“I’m just glad we found them,” says Sgt. Sterling. “If it wasn’t for the cell phone and the air wing we would be out there looking for them. It was a good team effort by everybody.”

The boys were taken to Brockton Hospital for evaluation.