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Three women were rescued Wednesday after spending a night alone along the banks of the Muskegon River in Michigan.

(mlive.com file photo)

MUSKEGON COUNTY, Michigan -- Three young women ended up spending a frightened night outside along a riverbank while tubing after being told the river went in a circle.

The women, all in their 20s, were unharmed besides a few scratches and bug bites when they were found after spending more than 20 hours outside, reports mlive.com.

The women began their trip Tuesday afternoon on the Muskegon River. None of them had been on the river previously, the Detroit Free Press reports.

"They were informed by somebody at the bridge that the river goes in a circle and if they put in there they would come back to their car," Muskegon Township Deputy Fire Chief Bob Grabinski tells mlive.com. "Not knowing anything, they set off on their little adventure."

After several hours on the river, the women became scared and paddled to the riverbank and began yelling for help. They ended up spending the night outside with no food or water and huddled together to stay warm. They also did not have a phone with them.

They re-entered the water at 6 a.m. Wednesday to search for help. A fisherman on the river heard their yells just before noon Wednesday and called 911. They were rescued at 12:45 p.m.

It's estimated they traveled about three miles.

"In their words, they're never going tubing again," Grabinski said. "My words are know the river or take someone with you who knows it and have a plan."