In a dramatic rescue story from St. Johns, Florida, deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office managed to save a missing elderly man found “clinging to life” in a dense woodland area on December 29. The 72-year-old, a resident of Palm Coast, had been reported missing by his concerned family on December 15, classifying him as endangered.

The Sheriff’s Office promptly issued a Silver Alert to aid in the search. For four relentless days, deputies combed through the areas the man was known to visit, engaging with local businesses and canvassing the vicinity for any sign of him.

The breakthrough came on December 19 when a tipster reported spotting an abandoned vehicle in a secluded stretch of woods near North Old Dixie Highway, close to the St. Johns County line. Recognizing the vehicle as belonging to the missing man, deputies immediately began a thorough foot search of the surrounding forest, driven by the hope of finding him alive.

On Dec. 19, the sheriff’s office said a caller reported an abandoned vehicle in a remote area of the woods near N. Old Dixie Highway and the St. Johns County line.

Deputies recognized that the vehicle belonged to the man, so they searched the woods on foot in hopes of locating him, FCSO said in a Facebook post.

According to body camera footage from FCSO, the man was only 50 yards from his vehicle.

FCSO said the man fell against a tree with his neck caught against its trunk, reducing his ability to breathe. Deputies believe he was stuck in this position without food or water for several days in temperature as low as 43 degrees.

After deputies located the man, medical personnel said they were unable to reach the area by ambulance due to the remote location. The video shows deputies carrying the unconscious man to his vehicle and driving him out of the woods.

Flagler County Fire Rescue paramedics evaluated the man and transferred him to an ambulance once deputies brought him to the roadway, FCSO said.

The man was brought by ambulance to a landing zone in St. Johns County where he was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

“A citizen that ‘saw something said something’ along with quick thinking and resourcefulness of our deputies, without a doubt saved this man’s life,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “By using the victim’s car to transport him to paramedics, they saved minutes when seconds mattered.”

FCSO said the man is expected to fully recover from this incident.