Four Mercer University students have been rescued from a swamp infested with alligators and inhabited by other dangerous wildlife like insects, snakes and wild hogs, the Macon Telegraph reported.

At times, the students, two men and two women, were chest-deep in swamp water when they got lost on the Ocmulgee River Monday night. The four began a rafting ride about 3:30 p.m. and called 911 around 9 p.m. when they realized they were lost.

"They had no idea what they got themselves into," said Sgt. Mitch Scott, of the Macon-Bibb Fire Department.

They set out on foot, completely lost and unaware of the dangerous animals that inhabited the swamp. The rescuers said the students told them they had walked through chest-deep swamp water at times trying to find their way out.

"They don't know how blessed they were," he said, noting the firefighters nearly hit a 200-pound hog while leaving the swamp. "There are gators down there that would eat you whole."

Macon E-911 dispatchers coordinated the search efforts while police corresponded with the students via cell phone and with the search party members. Those involved in rescue efforts also included fire units and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

A Georgia State patrol helicopter was on standby, ready to aid in the search, but it was a GPS signal that eventually ended the rescue mission around 11:30 p.m.

Fire Cpl. Garin Flanders said the only working cell phone any of the students had was down to about eight percent battery during the first call for help. He said they were on the phone for about an hour when one said they saw a sign for Walker Swamp Road. Familiar with the landmark from hunting trips, Flanders said it gave him an idea where to look.

Assistant Solid Waste Director Larry Dunning Jr. said two of him employees aided in the search by helping navigate to the students' location. The main road to the Walker Swamp Road location was flooded, but Lee Stringer and Jamie Josey, the two employees knew the back roads to that spot.