Police are praising the actions of a trooper who managed to find and rescue an Alzheimer's patient who had wandered away from his home in Vassalboro, Maine.Maine State Trooper Tyler Harrington responded to the call about missing 82-year-old Bernard Perry at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. Perry's frantic wife called 911 to report him missing, Harrington had just started his shift and overheard the call."Luckily, Mr. Perry lives around four miles from my house," Harrington said.A storm had covered the roads with ice and snow. Harrington spotted a snow plow driver and pulled him over. The driver said he saw an older man walking in the area."I had the plow truck driver show me where the last place he had seen him as I followed him over, the plow truck driver pointed in the general area. I was able to shine my flashlight and see Mr. Perry off the roadway in the ditch," Harrington said.Harrington said Perry was suffering from severe hypothermia and frostbite and could not speak."He was unable to walk. I had asked him if he could hear me. He made a groaning noise which led me to believe that I was going to have to carry him to safety," Harrington said.Harrington estimates that Perry had been in the ditch for about 90 minutes about a quarter of a mile from his home."I don't know how much longer he would have had," Harrington said.Harrington said he does not want to be called a hero for his actions."Ultimately being at the right place, at the right time. Any one of us, any law enforcement, any civilian would have done the exact same thing I did," Harrington said. "I pray that he's able to be home for Christmas with his family."Perry remained at an area hospital as of Thursday afternoon. Doctors wanted to keep him there for about 48 hours due to fluid in his lungs.
Police are praising the actions of a trooper who managed to find and rescue an Alzheimer's patient who had wandered away from his home in Vassalboro, Maine.
Maine State Trooper Tyler Harrington responded to the call about missing 82-year-old Bernard Perry at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. Perry's frantic wife called 911 to report him missing, Harrington had just started his shift and overheard the call.
"Luckily, Mr. Perry lives around four miles from my house," Harrington said.
A storm had covered the roads with ice and snow. Harrington spotted a snow plow driver and pulled him over. The driver said he saw an older man walking in the area.
"I had the plow truck driver show me where the last place he had seen him as I followed him over, the plow truck driver pointed in the general area. I was able to shine my flashlight and see Mr. Perry off the roadway in the ditch," Harrington said.
Harrington said Perry was suffering from severe hypothermia and frostbite and could not speak.
"He was unable to walk. I had asked him if he could hear me. He made a groaning noise which led me to believe that I was going to have to carry him to safety," Harrington said.
Harrington estimates that Perry had been in the ditch for about 90 minutes about a quarter of a mile from his home.
"I don't know how much longer he would have had," Harrington said.
Harrington said he does not want to be called a hero for his actions.
"Ultimately being at the right place, at the right time. Any one of us, any law enforcement, any civilian would have done the exact same thing I did," Harrington said. "I pray that he's able to be home for Christmas with his family."
Perry remained at an area hospital as of Thursday afternoon. Doctors wanted to keep him there for about 48 hours due to fluid in his lungs.
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