78-year-old getting mail vanishes, then drones find him in bitter cold, CA rescuers say

A 78-year-old man went missing after going to get the mail, California officials said.

Then a drone spotted his motionless body in thick brush, according to a Dec. 23 Facebook post by Malibu Search and Rescue.

The man, who has early onset dementia, left his home Dec. 23 at 4:30 p.m. to get the mail but never returned, officials said.

A few hours later, rescuers got a call that their help was needed as the temperature was falling from 48 degrees, officials said.

The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Office deployed drones equipped with infrared heat-seeking tech, and slightly past 11 p.m. rescuers found a “significant heat signature” near the roadway, officials said.

Rescuers went to the location and found the man confused, unable to walk and suffering from cold-related illness, officials said.

A blanket was wrapped around him, and he was placed in a rescue basket, officials said.

He was then carried to an ambulance and taken to the hospital for treatment, officials said.

Malibu is about a 30-mile drive west of downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 5:08 PM with the headline "78-year-old getting mail vanishes, then drones find him in bitter cold, CA rescuers say."