Aug 20, 2021

Hero policewoman finds missing dementia patient while searching on her day off

A missing 85-year-old man has been found alive and well after spending 30 hours in a ditch, thanks to a driven policewoman who spent her day off looking for him.

An 85-year-old man with dementia was found alive after spending the night in a 4.5 metre ditch. The man was located by a dedicated policewoman who spent her day off searching for the missing grandfather.

Joseph Hughes disappeared from a nursing home in the Welsh suburb of Porthcawl on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Hughes’ absence from the home was noticed later that afternoon when his son arrived for a visit but was unable to locate his father within the facility.

Mr Hughes’ son, nursing home staff and local authorities quickly launched a large-scale search effort, which ran all the way through the night and into the next morning, but unfortunately, the search failed to yield a result. 

Distressed family members continued their search efforts the following morning, as did a policewoman by the name of Amy who had been unable to stop thinking about the lost grandfather.

With hopes beginning to fade and legs beginning to tire, Amy’s loud calls of “Mr Hughes!” were eventually met with a response that appeared to have come from a ditch that was covered in thick foliage.

It was Mr Hughes. 

He had spent the entire night in the ditch wearing only a thin T-shirt and thin trousers.

Mr Hughes’ daughter-in-law, Linda, described the scenes to local reporters

“He’d not eaten or drank anything since 1pm the previous day and he wasn’t dressed for lying outside, he had trousers and a T-shirt on.”

“[Amy] said she got drawn to where [Mr Hughes] was. I called her ‘Amy the Angel’ because I think she was.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Living with Purpose After Retirement: Wisdom from Japan’s Seniors

In Japan, older women often thrive in retirement while many men struggle. Why? It’s all about connection! Learn from Japanese seniors who found meaning outside work. Read More

Mum of 3 shines a light on her childrens rare dementia diagnosis

An Adelaide mum is raising awareness of childhood dementia after the heartbreaking diagnosis that all three of her young children have a rare genetic disorder that could tragically impact their lives. Read More

Sixty Disadvantaged Elderly Australians Find A New Home in Central West NSW

Sixty senior Australians who have been living rough, or are disadvantaged and at risk of homelessness now have a place to call home – all because of a $14.7 million Government aged care investment in the Central West of New South Wales.   Officially opening Mission Australia’s Benjamin Short Grove Aged Care Facility in Orange... Read More
Advertisement