ARGYLE — Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud credited the quick work of volunteers and first-responders for helping to locate a 70-year-old Argyle man who spent Saturday night last week in a cornfield — apparently confused and with medical issues.

“(Finding the man) was wonderful news especially given the weather over those days,” said Skatrud, alluding to the fact that until he was found, the missing man endured heat, storms and stifling humidity.

He was later identified as John Svendsen by the sheriff’s department in a weekend press release.

“Credit goes out to the volunteers who located him but we were glad that we could provide assistance,” he said.

The ordeal began when the authorities received a call that a 70-year-old rural Argyle man had abandoned his vehicle on West Point Rd. in Adams Township and left on foot.  

“The individual had a known medical condition and was considered at risk.  Deputies, along with the man’s family members and volunteers from the community as well as Argyle and Monticello Fire Department personnel searched the area by foot and the Sheriff’s Office utilized a drone and K-9 team,” said the sheriff’s department statement.  “The individual was not located and a statewide Silver Alert was approved and issued at approximately 10:00 p.m. Saturday evening.”

Volunteers converged early Sunday for a second foot search, he said.

A large group of volunteers began looking in the area on Sunday morning, while Sheriff’s Office personnel also searched an area on foot a few miles away — where cell phone data showed possible activity from the missing man’s phone.  A representative from the Wisconsin Department of Justice also responded to help with specialized equipment utilized to search for cell-phone locations. 

Finally, at about 11 a.m., members of the volunteer search group located the man in a farm field north of West Point Rd.; and just west of Holstein Prairie Rd.

“That’s a really tough guy, and a great job,” said the sheriff.

The man, who was characterized as being “in medical distress,” was then taken by UTV to a nearby farm; and transported to The Monroe Clinic Hospital by Argyle EMS.  Green County EMS also assisted, officials said.

Skatrud declined to speculate on how the man came to be missing or the exact nature of his medical issues.