A 79-year-old man who suffers from cognitive impairment was rescued by Osceola County Sheriff’s Office deputies last week after he wandered away from his home and into a nearby pond.
Shortly after 9:10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, OCSO deputies responded to the 1500 block of London Court after receiving reports of a missing elderly person. A concerned resident had discovered that one of their relatives, a 79-year-old man, had been missing for more than an hour, according to the sheriff’s office.
Upon arrival, deputies were informed that due to the elderly man’s reported cognitive impairment, he had “left his home thinking he needed to go to work.” He had been missing for approximately two hours, and neighbors had already started searching for him.
The deputies quickly organized a search, with assistance provided by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Aiding in the search were law enforcement drones, a helicopter, and K-9 units.
At around 10:35 p.m., the OCSO aviation unit spotted a person standing in waist-deep water in a pond located near the intersection of Northgate Drive and Watergate Drive. Deputies hurried to that location and safely pulled the individual out of the water.
The rescued individual was identified as the missing elderly man. He received immediate care at the scene before being transported to a local hospital for further medical evaluation.
“This incident shows how important it is for law enforcement, partner agencies, and the community to work together quickly to keep vulnerable people safe,” said OCSO in a media release.