A 20-year-old Salem man who ran away from home after a verbal dispute with his parents was found unconscious nearly 15 hours later.

Police had been searching for Nigel Bridges of 124 Pelham Road after he left his house and headed into a heavily wooded area at around 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Bridges was found by a dog rescue team about a half mile from his home.

He was brought to Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass., and later transported to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston where he has been listed in serious condition, according to a press release.

When one of the K-9 teams found Bridges at 4:25 p.m., he was unresponsive and hypothermic, but he was breathing.

Lt. Kevin Jordan of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said Bridges wouldn’t have lasted much longer without help.

“He would not have survived the night in the condition he was in,” he said. “It’s a good thing we found him when we did.”

Jordan said Bridges must have gotten wet instantly after heading into the swampy area. He was only wearing a longsleeved shirt and jeans while temperatures hit a low of 36 degrees that night.

Police had been immediately notified by Bridges’ parents after he ran out of the home but were unable to find him.

A massive search ensued, including K-9 search dogs, a state police helicopter and a dive team from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department who were called to investigate a pond located a few hundred yards into the wooded area.

Once the sun rose, Salem police officers and firefighters conducted line searches throughout the area and also used thermal imaging equipment, according to Salem police Deputy Chief Robert Larsen.