Mr. Wayne Strilesky was last seen going into a forested area in north Nanaimo. (Nanaimo RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

late night search

UPDATE: 75-year-old man with dementia found in north Nanaimo after urgent search

Aug 19, 2019 | 11:51 PM

NANAIMO — An urgent search is over after crews found a missing 75-year-old man who’d walked away from an Upper Lantzville home into a forested area.

Wayne Strilesky, 75, was discovered around noon on Tuesday, Aug. 20 after a lengthy search which began the afternoon before.

He was reportedly able to walk out of the forest with searchers who discovered him.

EARLIER: A search is continuing for an elderly man with severe dementia.

Wayne Strilesky, 75, went missing on Monday, Aug. 19 after walking away from a home on Manhatten Way in upper Lantzville in the Phantom Rd. area.

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Nanaimo RCMP said Strilesky went into a forested area near where he was staying and did not come back.

Strilesky is five-foot-eight with sandy hair and a mustache. He was last seen wearing a red jacket, dark blue jeans, a black Canada hat and white running shoes.

35 regional search and rescue volunteers and numerous RCMP resources, including a helicopter, were all involved in the search as of mid-day Tuesday, according to SAR commander Paul Berry.

He said the search is focused on the woods west of Green Lake.

“That (area) has very much been a high priority and until we find some clues that give us an indication that did go that way we have to look at every other direction at the same time.”

Berry said search officials had no hints as to where Stirlesky ventured after he entered the woods. He said the search area will widen as time passes.

“We have not been able to identify a single clue or really nail down a direction of travel.”

In addition to dementia, Strilesky is hard of hearing among other medical conditions.

Nanaimo Search and Rescue searched throughout the night but called off their search for the night around 11:30 p.m Monday.

“He’s also gotten a ride from a member of the public who was trying to help out and drove him somewhere else.”

Anyone who comes across him is urged to call 911 immediately.

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