When a 78-year-old man in California went missing after heading to his mailbox, an extraordinary rescue effort unfolded — complete with drones, infrared technology, and a team of dedicated searchers. What started as a routine task turned into a race against time as temperatures dropped and concerns for his safety mounted.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Malibu Search and Rescue Team (Malibu SAR), the man disappeared after leaving his home to get the mail. His absence was reported by a concerned individual who noted his struggle with early-onset dementia. As the temperature dipped to 48 degrees Fahrenheit and continued to fall, the urgency to locate him grew.
When deputies spotted a heat signature that wasn’t moving, they knew they had found the missing elderly man. Photo by Malibu SAR
Malibu SAR, along with the sheriff’s department’s Lost Hills Station, quickly mobilized. Utilizing multiple drones equipped with advanced technology, including an infrared heat-seeking system, the team scoured the area for any sign of the missing man. The cutting-edge technology soon detected “a significant heat signature over the side of the roadway in thick brush,” Malibu SAR reported. The object appeared motionless, raising hopes that it could be the lost individual.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the location with medical and evacuation supplies. “Upon arriving on scene, the rescuers observed the missing man suffering from cold related illness, confused and unable to walk,” the Malibu SAR posted. The team added that the man was evaluated, wrapped in a warm blanket and placed into a rescue basket. He was later taken to a waiting ambulance and transported to a nearby hospital, where officials said he is expected to make a full recovery.
A miracle just in time for the holidays!” Malibu SAR said in their post.
Deputies help rescue in elderly man that had gone missing, thanks to the use of an infrared drone. Photo courtesy of Malibu SAR
“If it wasn’t for the drone, we definitely would not have been able to find him,” Los Angeles County Deputy Oscar Peraza said. He was one of the two drone pilots that had helped search for the elderly man. “Within 20 minutes of getting the drone up in the sky, we were able to find a really big hot spot … his wife was really happy we found him,” he said.
The sheriff’s department said that there are typically dozens of calls for missing people in the area, and that drones with infrared technology are paving the way for the future of search and rescue. “It does give us an advantage because what deputies would typically on the ground cover in one hour, we can fly over in a couple minutes,” Peraza said.
