Missing Elderly Man Found Safely In Merrimack After Extensive Search

MERRIMACK, NH — Merrimack Police responded to the Wildcat Falls Conservation area on Friday for a report that an elderly man had not returned from a hike.

A large group of people was on the trail in the conservation area, and Ventura Urbaez, 78, became separated from the group. Police were advised that Urbaez suffers from dementia and had no cell phone, flashlight, or water with him when last seen.

Police requested assistance from Merrimack fire rescue, who brought resources to the scene to begin a search in the large conservation area. Searchers worked walking the several trails, yelling the man's name. A reverse 911 message and alerts on social media advised people in the area to notify authorities if they saw anyone meeting the description of the man.

A crew of firefighters searched the water and shorelines for the man and worked in the water until darkness.

Londonderry Police were requested to the scene to assist with their drone unit. The drone allows large areas to be searched quickly using thermal imaging to help locate people.

As the search went on for several hours, New Hampshire State Police responded and used their thermal imaging capabilities to search the dense woods that were in total darkness.

At about 10 p.m. the helicopter radioed to the ground units that they could see a heat image that appeared to be a person laying on the ground in an area off West Chamberlin Road and near the Everett Turnpike southbound lane.

Ground units were coached on the direction to travel as the helicopter remained above the person. Firefighters and officers located the man and transported him out of the woods using an off-road vehicle.

The man was brought out of the woods to an ambulance waiting at the Merrimack High School. The man could walk to the ambulance that transported him to a Nashua hospital for a medical evaluation.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news