The elderly man who had been missing since Monday, triggering a widespread social media alert, was found alive in a private garden on Saturday.

According to newspaper Correio da Manhã, Joaquim Francisco was found by one of his sons in the garden less than a kilometre from his home.

“He was lying next to a wall at the end of the garden” said son Luis Francisco, who added that searches had previously been made in that area by GNR police, family and friends.

According to Correio da Manhã the man was disoriented, very dehydrated and had a number of bruises on his body.

Joaquim Francisco was immediately assisted by INEM emergency medics and firemen and taken to Portimão Hospital, where he checked over before being allowed home.