Family overjoyed Medford teen found safe

MEDFORD, Mass. (WHDH) -- It was a happy ending for Nicholas Joy’s family who went up to Maine to help in the search for their 17-year-old brother missing at a ski resort.

“I just ran up to him and cried. And I just was like, ‘Oh my God, you’re here,’ and he was just tired and just gave me a hug,” said Alysson Atherton, Joy’s sister.

The minute Nicholas Joy's big sister and brother saw him, they were overwhelmed with joy, then immediately wanted to know what happened.

“He was going down the glades through the trees and he’s been skiing all of his life, so he’s experienced and I’m sure he just wanted to go on an adventure. And he just happened to get to a point where he couldn’t get back up so he went down farther and got stuck,” said Michael Atherton, Joy’s brother.

When Joy was first reported missing while skiing in Maine Sunday, his family drove up to help with the search.

They say they knew he was an experienced skier, but did not know he was a survivalist. But they're so grateful he had what it took to walk out of the dangerous situation.

“We’re all really happy that he knew what to do in a situation like that and it’s just wonderful the way the story has ended for us. It’s truly a blessing,” said Michael Atherton.