BENTON COUNTY - After four nights alone, searchers find a missing Benton County man, hurt but alive.

John Skalsky Jr. is recovering at University of Iowa Hospitals. His aunt found him Wednesday morning alongside railroad tracks in Benton County.

The 22-year-old was supposed to go to a party, but never arrived.

Skalsky left Blairstown Saturday night for Norway. For the past four days, searchers scoured the railroad tracks between the two towns but found no sign of him.

A white flag marks where Skalsky laid for four nights, badly injured. After not showing up for a party, friends and family started looking between his home of Blairstown, and the party in Norway.

"It was so hard. And by yesterday (Tuesday) when we left that search, something told me to stay in it," said family friend Judith Purcell.

Friends knew Skalsky couldn't drive the roughly nine miles between towns. Investigators say he didn't have a valid license.

Investigators now believe Skalsky jumped on a train running between the two cities, which is trespassing.

"We're surmising that based on some of the stuff we found along the track that he was either hit by a train or he jumped from a train," Benton County Sheriff Randy Forsyth said.

Searchers found him a quarter-mile past the party in Norway. Sheriff Forsyth says it's common for trains to stop or slow down in the area.

However, the Union Pacific said trains can get up to 70 miles an hour on that track.

The Sheriff says one theory is that Skalsky tried to jump off when it was going too fast.

"From Saturday until Wednesday and he's still breathing, that's a man," Purcell said.

He was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. His condition is not available. But, his sister says he came in looking like he was really beaten up, and is doing a little bit better since he arrived.

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Statement from the family of John Skalsky, Jr.

We are overjoyed that John Skalsky, Jr., our son, brother, fiancé, nephew and friend was found alive today. We will forever be deeply grateful and indebted to family members, friends, neighbors, law enforcement officers, the news media and volunteers from so many communities for their assistance with the search for John. Words are inadequate to express our appreciation for all of your efforts.

We are now focused on helping John recover from this ordeal. We ask for your understanding as we support him at this time and that everyone respect our privacy during John’s period of healing. We look forward to celebrating with everyone when his recovery is complete.