Elderly man found

BREAKING NEWS: Timaru police's search for an 84-year-old man was succesfully resolved after he was found by a family member.

The man, who suffers from dementia and Parkinsons disease, went missing from a private address backing on to the Scenic Reserve.

He went missing at about 3:30pm, but Sgt Kevin Mcerlain said police did not receive the report until about two hours later.

Timaru police would not identify the man, but described him as a male european, of slight build. He is about 1.70 metres in height but has a stooped posture. The man does not always remember his name.

Mr Mcerlain said the man was found near the BMX track on the Scenic Reserve  at about 6pm today looking a bit ''worse for wear'', with a few scratches and bruises, but otherwise fine.

''He might have got into a bush or something. We sent out about half a dozen police to search a wide area, as someone can travel quite a distance in two hours. We sent the dogs out with us, but they were not needed,'' he said.

Sgt Mcerlain said  the man was returned to his private address as soon as he was reported found. 

- © Fairfax NZ News