They didn't have good news. The main body was still back on the hill about 4 or 5 miles, and a couple of people were having a hard time physically, besides lacking food and water. Even more so in Zion where the trails have lots of cliff exposure. Carry more water than you think you'll need. This has been helpful on subsequent events.
Extra food is handy too.
Distance alone is not the true factor that it seems to be. So he heads back up the trail after radioing for more support. Interestingly, while we did get a lecture about the risks involved in backcountry hiking, he did temper his discourse with the knowledge that we weren't the people in trouble. I waited around longer than it took me to hike the whole thing. Then it was another hour in the back seat of an overloaded Cavalier to get back to Lava Point and return to camp at Kolob Reservoir.