James Delorey, 7, died in hospital just hours after he was found Monday afternoon. (Cape Breton Regional Police)James Delorey, the Nova Scotia boy who died Tuesday after surviving two days lost in the woods, left a big impression on those who knew him as well as those who never met him.

The seven-year-old died at a Halifax hospital less than a day after he was found unconscious and suffering from severe hypothermia, curled up in the fetal position under thick brush about 1.3 kilometres from his home in South Bar.

Paul MacDonald, the principal at Harbourside Elementary School in Sydney, said his students were devastated to hear of their friend's death.

"It was very hard because we were so upbeat after hearing that he'd been found, we thought a miracle was in place," he said. "To find out that he passed away after all the fighting, it was really tough."

The boy, who had autism and did not speak, left a big impression on his teachers and fellow students, MacDonald said.

"Even though he was non-verbal, he could show his emotions," he said, adding that the boy with big, brown eyes loved playing with blocks and hanging out in the cafeteria.

The principal described James as being calm and content.

"He had a nice way about him," MacDonald said. "That's the way he was around the school. Just a nice little boy … he seemed content."

Melanie Sampson, a resident of South Bar and a friend of the boy's grandparents, said the small community is heartbroken.

"I felt completely numb. I cried and I thought I would just keep crying for hours but there's just not enough tears left," she said.

Search-and-rescue crews and volunteers from across Nova Scotia joined in the search. (CBC)"I mean we've cried so much this weekend.… There's just this overwhelming numb feeling."

Sampson said James's family is well known and well loved in South Bar.

"They're a wonderful family, a very strong family, very loving family," she said. "They know that they have the support of everyone around them that knows and loves them very much."

Searchers mourn

Paul Vienneau, the search commander for Cape Breton Search and Rescue, said the emotional roller-coaster of the boy's rescue and death took a toll on hundreds of local volunteers.

"The bottom of my heart fell out and I feel for the family," he said.

John Tatlock of the South Bar Volunteer Fire Department called it "a sad ending."

"We will help. Any way the fire services can help the family and that's the end of it. We'll do it," Tatlock said, his voice breaking.

A searcher who was on the team that found James said they heard the news of his death as they returned to their Halifax base from Cape Breton.

"We deal with this and we work hard and we have to know that we did the best job we could," said Blair Doyle.

He said James was lightly covered with snow when he was found and there was an impression on the ground next to him where his pet dog, Chance, had been.

"I think at some point he just got as far as he could, and we all reach a limit, a human limitation and he just laid down," said Doyle.

Sampson said she was thankful that the boy's family was able to be by his bedside when he died.

"I'm just so glad that his family got a chance to be with him and that there's some closure for them."

With files from The Canadian Press