The image of Simmons was one of 126 photos moved by the AP depicting cold weather across the country, showing how lucky the family was

They notified police who located the man near the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.

However, on Sunday his parents saw a homeless man who looked like Simmons in a USA TODAY story published by the Democrat and Chronicle

After he didn't come back, his relatives launched a desperate search for him by contacting local media and making posts on Facebook

Nicholas A. Simmons, 20, was last seen leaving his home in Greece on New Year's Day

A missing New York man has been located in Washington, D.C. after his family spotted a photograph of him in a USA TODAY story about the freezing weather.

Nicholas A. Simmons, 20, was last seen leaving his home in Greece, near Rochester, on New Year's Day. After he didn't come back, his relatives launched a desperate search for him by contacting local media and making posts on Facebook.

However, on Sunday his parents, Paul and Michelle Simmons, saw a homeless man who looked just like their son in a USA TODAY news report published by the Democrat and Chronicle and notified local police.

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Miracle picture: This picture of Nicholas Simmons, 20, was published Sunday alongside a USA TODAY story on frigid temperatures. His parents Paul and Michelle Simmons saw the photograph after it was brought to their attention and called police

The picture was in a USA TODAY news report, pictured, published by the Democrat and Chronicle and notified local police. It was taken on Saturday by Jacquelyn Martin, a photographer with the Associated Press

The picture showed the man, identified as 'Nick,' wrapped in a blanket just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. It was taken on Saturday by Jacquelyn Martin, a photographer with the Associated Press.

On Sunday night, Greece police contacted their counterparts in Washington who located Simmons and the young man was taken to George Washington University Hospital 'as a precaution.'

'Simmons was located after he was photographed in Washington, D.C., by an AP reporter,' a police statement read. '(The) photo ran in the USA Today in an unrelated story and the photo was seen by Simmons' family who recognized him.'

'Nick is alive but obviously not well,' his mother said in a Facebook post hours before her son was located, according to the Democrat and Chronicle.

'We are going to get him home and safe and this is by far the greatest example of God's love and divine intervention I have ever experienced. I am beyond able to put into words how I am feeling.'

Search: Simmons, pictured left with his sister and right, was last seen leaving his home in Rochester on New Year's Day. After he didn't come back, his relatives launched a desperate search for him

According to Facebook, the family reached out to Martin to see if she had any information about Simmons' whereabouts since taking the picture.

'She is NOT with him and we do NOT know if he is in that same spot but we have MULTIPLE people heading to that area,' they wrote.

Family members then headed to D.C. to locate the man. It was not immediately clear how Simmons got to the city.

The image of Simmons was one of 126 photos moved by the AP depicting cold weather across the country, showing just how lucky he and his family were that the newspaper's picture desk chose that photo.

After spotting the image at around 10:50 a.m. on Sunday, Simmons' sister Hannah Simmons tweeted at the USA TODAY reporter who wrote the story, Natalie DiBlasio.

Lucky: Jacquelyn Martin, a photographer with the Associated Press, took three images of Nick wrapped in a blanket just blocks from the U.S. Capitol though only one clearly showed his face

Cold: The image of Simmons, warming himself on a steam grate, was one of 126 photos moved by the AP depicting cold weather across the country, showing just how lucky he and his family were that the newspaper's picture desk chose that photo

The two spoke and DiBlasio asked her photo editor for help contacting Martin. She managed to put the photographer in touch with Hannah Simmons.

Martin offered to return to the place where she photographed Simmons and search for him. It's not clear whether she or authorities finally located him.

Once he was found, his mom, Michelle Simmons, wrote on Facebook that the family was en route to Washington to collect him.