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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- An elderly man missing for three days is found alive and well, and now rescuers are calling it a Christmas miracle.

The 76-year-old, Rosendo Villa, was last seen Monday at a store near his home, but deputies said Villa suffers from dementia, and his family was worried about his safety.

Deputies searched the area between Villa's home near Powers Boulevard and Platte Avenue and the store but found nothing.

Thursday El Paso County search and rescuers worked the area with a dog.

With Villa's dementia and the cold weather, some officials were worried this story might not have a happy ending.

But Villa was found Thursday afternoon not too far from his home and in surprisingly good shape.

All afternoon crews with El Paso County Search and Rescue worked the open fields near Powers and Platte.

They were hoping to find Villa, but he wasn't reported missing until yesterday.

Thursday Villa was found alive and relatively well laying down in a debris-littered depression about a quarter mile from his home.

“He had some abrasions on his legs had a little bit of frostbite. He was cold," El Paso County Search and Rescuer Teresa Burgess said.

Searchers said Villa didn't know what day it was or where he was, but he still had enough spark to wink at the female rescuers.

“He was alert and talking to us," Burgess said. "He had a little bit of spunk to him."

Crews said Willa was dressed warmly but was not prepared for three days and three nights in the December cold.

“He was dressed in layers," Burgess said. "He had a jacket, and he had a hoodie on and a t-shirt and pants and socks. His shoes were not on him."

But because of Villa's dementia, we may never know exactly how long he was out in the cold or how he managed to survive.

“We're hoping he wasn't actually out there for three days," Burgess said. "If he was, awesome miracle, he's a tough old guy."

Searchers said it was critical they found Villa before he had to spend another night in the cold.

“Especially with the weather coming on like it is, it's supposed to come on tonight, he might not have survived," Burgess said.

Family members at the scene said they are eternally grateful to the men and women of El Paso County Search and Rescue who brought their father home in time for Christmas.
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An elderly man who's been missing since Monday has been found alive.

The El Paso County Sheriff's office said on Dec. 22 around 10 p.m. family members reported 76-year-old Rosendo Villa missing.

He was last seen Dec. 20 in the 6000 block of East Platte Avenue.

Today El Paso County Search and Rescue found Villa about a quarter mile from his home in an open field.

Officials said Villa had a few scrapes and cuts and some frostbite, but was otherwise okay.

Villa suffers from dementia.