At a Glance

The boy went missing Tuesday from his grandmother's backyard in Elsun, North Carolina.He was found entangled in briars in the woods about 50 yards from the home.

A 3-year-old North Carolina boy was found safe Thursday after spending two nights in below freezing temperatures.

The FBI, state investigators, the U.S. Marine Corps from nearby bases at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point and more than 600 volunteers searched for Casey Lynn Hathaway after he disappeared while playing Tuesday in his grandmother's backyard in Elsun, North Carolina, the Associated Press reports.

After authorities received a tip, Chocowinity emergency management captain Shane Grier said he found the boy in the woods about 50 yards from his grandmother's backyard. He noted that he heard the boy calling for his mother and found him entangled in briars.

"He was cold but he was verbal in command to us. The more we warmed him up, the more active he became," Grier said. "For the conditions, I think he fared pretty well."

(MORE: Southern California Sinkhole Opens Up Between Condo Complexes)

Temperatures dipped into the 20s Tuesday night with intermittent freezing rain, notes weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam. On Wednesday, temperatures climbed into the 60s before dropping again Wednesday night into the low 30s with a wind chill factor in the 20s.

When he was found, Casey was still wearing his jacket zipped up, authorities said.

At a press conference late Thursday night, Casey's mother, Brittany Hathaway, said her son was doing well.

"He's good; he's good; he's up and talking; he's already asking to watch Netflix," she said.