Tips from social media help locate missing Montreal cyclist in Mexico

Steeve Poirier, 47, went missing while on a cycling trip in Mexico.

A cyclist from Anjou who went missing in Mexico has been found safe and sound.

Steeve Poirier, 47, was missing for about two days after setting out on a 160-kilometres ride on Saturday from Playa del Carmen but didn't return as planned.

According to his uncle, Andre Poirier, his bike broke down and he was advised to take a shortcut through a forested area.

He was found with the help of social media and locals who responded to calls for information on his whereabouts.

Poirier said he was elated when he heard the news on Monday that his nephew had been found. "I yahoo'd pretty loud," he told CTV News. 'They found him!"

"We're all happy. His two sisters are very happy. His mother — she almost didn't sleep since saturday."

Poirier said the family had trouble locating him since there was no signal on his Garmin GPS device or his smartphone.

"So he was alone. And he walked a distance. He stopped. He slept in the forest last night and when they tried to find again this morning it was with the help of the people not far from there who said, yes, we saw him last night. Yes we saw him this morning. So that's the way that we find him," he said.

He said he was thankful for the Good Samaritans who helped find him.

"People are extremely generous and we were extremely touched about that," he said.