MUSINA – The air wing of the police, together with the SANDF, took part in an extensive search for a 78-year-old man who went missing here.

The elderly Mr Mel Gelderblom of Durban went missing on March 29 at about 09:30 when he left home for a supermarket in town. Mr Gelderblom, an Alzheimer sufferer, was at the time visiting his daughter, Mrs Kim Zeeventer, who stays in Musina.

After reported sightings from as far afield as Waterval, Elim and Beit Bridge, Mr Gelderblom was found by members of the SANDF on the Echo 2 road, a military patrol road along the Zimbabwean border, more than two days later. He was very tired and dehydrated when he was found at 11:00 on March 31 and was immediately taken for medical treatment, before he could return home.

After the first reports of his disappearance, there was speculation that he might be on his way back to Durban. One person reported that he gave Mr Gelderblom a lift and dropped him at the Elim/Waterval road at about 17:30 on the day of his disappearance. He was, however, later positively identified on the Musina/Beit Bridge road, wearing a blue and white check colour shirt, white cap, navy Bermuda trousers and a navy backpack.

The air wing unit, members of the CID, Crime Prevention and CSC were part of the search conducted immediately after Mr Gelderblom went missing. All concerned expressed relief and joy that it was possible to return him safely to his family.