FARMINGTON — Along with other well-wishers, Daryl “Poochie” Searles of Phillips wanted to do something when he heard Nicholas Joy, 17, of Medford, Mass., had been found alive Tuesday at Sugarloaf.

Joy, who became lost while skiing Sunday, was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital by ambulance Tuesday morning. He stayed overnight and was discharged about 8:25 a.m. Wednesday.

Hospital spokeswoman Jill Gray told the media that the family had left Wednesday morning and that Joy was fine, but tired.

She said his parents, Robert and Donna Joy, would allow media to contact Nicholas in a few days after he rests. Whether he wants to talk about his experience or not, the parents are leaving that decision up to him, she said.

Searles, along with Maine and Boston-area television crews, and a representative from “Good Morning America,” were waiting to talk to Joy outside the hospital Wednesday morning.

The family, however, left the hospital through an exit away from them.

When Searles first heard the news of Joy’s rescue Tuesday morning, he gathered a bunch of grapes and a whoopie pie, drove to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington and waited outside along with media from across the state and New England.

“I saw the report and wanted to tell him how glad I am he was found,” Searles said Tuesday as he waited more than three hours.

Finally, Nicholas’ mother came out heading for her car, and Searles offered the gift to her for Nicholas.

“She just said ‘no thanks,'” Searles said Wednesday morning.

He felt badly but said he could understand a parent’s protection.

After learning Joy spent the night at the hospital, he came back Wednesday morning in hopes of offering the gift to Nicholas and wishing him well when he left.

While hospital security sought a way for the family to leave, the family planned their departure at an exit away from media and Searles.

The family said in a statement Tuesday that he was doing well. They also thanked everyone for their hopes and prayers.

Joy spent two nights in a snow cave he built and on Tuesday climbed a steep embankment to a snowmobile trail, one traveled by Maine Game Wardens while they searched for him Monday.

He walked down the trail Tuesday morning and was discovered by a Massachusetts snowmobiler, Joseph Paul, about 9 a.m.

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