87-Year-Old Woman Saved By National Guard After Being Stranded For 2 Days On Remote Trail

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork)-- An 87-year-old New Jersey woman was stranded for two days after making a wrong turn on the road.

She was left with no phone, no food and only rainwater to drink, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported. The woman said she was just hours from death when some National Guard soldiers were in the right place at the right time.

Jeannette Haskins didn't think she'd be alive today.

"I had resolved the fact that I was going to die," she told CBS2's Aiello.

Haskins was driving from Little Egg Harbor to Baltimore on Saturday when she somehow got stuck on a remote trail in the woods used by tanks at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst.

"I really don't have any idea how I ended up there," she said. "I wasn't really concerned. I thought somebody would find me and help me get out."

Haskins was traveling with her cat and was without food, water, or a charged battery on her smartphone. Two days passed and no one came.

"It was so hot. It was really, really a nightmare," she said.

She grew dehydrated and started hallucinating.

"I'd get out of the car, thought I saw a car coming, blow the horn and wave and holler, then I'd realize there wasn't anybody there and I knew it was a bad sign," she recalled. "We had a heavy rain storm Monday morning and I had some bowls I brought to feed my cat. I set those out on the hood and got water in those and drank those, that's the only water I had."

She said she had completely lost hope.

"I was resigned to the fact by Monday that I wasn't going to get out. And right after that is when the men came!" she said.

Four Army National Guard soldiers from Massachusetts were on a training mission at the military base when they stumbled upon Haskins' car, gave her water and oxygen, and got her help.

"I passed out in the car... I came to and there were these men's faces! It was the best thing that ever happened," she said. "We have so much to be grateful to them for! I'm convinced if they hadn't found me I wouldn't be here today."

Haskins is recovering from dehydration. Unfortunately, during the ordeal her cat escaped from the car and has not been located. She said waking up and seeing the soldiers was the best feeling of her life.

The National Guard soldiers will be honored Saturday at their homebase near Boston.