The mother of a Vancouver

who temporarily went missing in Italy this week partially credits social media for helping find her son.

Mark Galligan told family members he was drugged by muggers. He later had to be hospitalized, but is going to be OK, his mother said.

When Mark Galligan didn't return to his hostel in

on Tuesday night, his sister, Shyla Dalirifar, became worried.

The two of them, both wedding photographers, had spent several weeks sightseeing in Italy. Galligan left to take pictures of the Coliseum on Tuesday night and wasn't seen for almost two days.

His sister alerted police and the U.S. embassy. Meanwhile, Galligan's friends and family got busy social networking at home. Using Facebook and Twitter to post his photo, they asked for prayers, information and help locating him.

"I tell you, Facebook can be used for some really good things," said his mother, Carolyn Galligan of Vancouver. "Twitter, too."

Offers of help began to pour in, Carolyn Galligan said, many from people she had never met. Thousands of e-mails flooded her inbox, and she received calls from people in Italy who had heard about her son and wanted to help.

"I've never seen anything like it," she said.

Friends and family donated money so Galligan's father, Jim, could take an emergency flight to Rome.

"There's good people everywhere that just want to help," Carolyn Galligan said. Mark Galligan was hospitalized on Friday after he was found, although he didn't suffer serious injuries.

His mother said he told her that when he was mugged, his iPhone, cash and camera equipment were stolen, but the thieves didn't take his bank cards or passport, she said.

"He was drugged and wandering around the streets for 36 hours not knowing who he was or where he was," she said.

She said she's thankful the outcome isn't worse.

"You don't know what the possibility is when someone's missing."

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