Police are asking for people on the North Shore to check their sheds and outbuildings, as the search for a missing man continues tonight.
74 year-old William Davies hasn’t been seen since he left a care facility in Bass Road, Albany at 10am yesterday morning.
Mr Davies suffers from a brain disorder called Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy (PSP) and has now missed a number of doses of medication.
Without his medication, his balance and mobility are severely affected and he may have trouble walking, have fallen or tripped.
PSP also affects a person’s ability to think clearly and may cause slurred speech. By now Mr Davies is likely to be very unwell and immobile.
Mr Davies has previously left his care facility and travelled on the bus into the city and around the Birkenhead/Sunnynook area. He has also previously been found in Newmarket.
Searches of the immediate area, local busways, shopping malls and parks by officers on the ground and in the Eagle Helicopter have been conducted but Mr Davies has not yet been located.
Police have also spoken with transport providers and one line of enquiry is that Mr Davies has caught the 957 bus that travels between Albany Station, Glenfield Mall, Highbury Shops and Birkenhead Wharf. It is possible that he has got off the bus at the Glenfield Shops at around 10.30am yesterday morning.
Police Search and Rescue and LandSAR (volunteers), Eagle Helicopter and frontline officers are currently carrying out further ground searches in the Albany area.
“The search for Mr Davies has been ongoing and we have a number of officers involved. We are very concerned about him and obviously with the poor weather over the past 24 hours our fears for him are growing.
I’m asking anyone who lives in Albany or around the area where that bus travels to check their outbuildings in case he has sought shelter there. We also want to hear from anyone who may have seen a man fitting Mr Davies description” says Inspector Shanan Gray, Area Commander, North Shore Police.
Mr Davies was wearing the following;
-Blue polar fleece top
-Dark trackpants
-A black shirt
-Sandals with no socks
Anyone with information should contact Police immediately on 111. Information can also be provided to the North Shore Police on 09 477 5261.
ENDS
Beth Bates/Waitemata Police
