Police say the search for a missing 75-year-old man with dementia who was later found dead was delayed after they were called to another "matter more pressing at the time".
A critical incident investigation has been launched after Peter Buckingham was found dead near his home on Wednesday night, nearly seven hours after being reported missing.
Mr Buckingham left his home on Tuesday night, and was reported missing by his wife just before 11am Wednesday.
"The police weren't able to get back to that job until later that afternoon, and unfortunately when we've undertaken the appropriate searching, we've located the gentleman deceased," NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said.
Police began searching for Mr Buckingham at 4pm, and his body was found on a walking track at Coffs Harbour's Hampshire Close, 300 metres from his home, at 6.30pm.
Police have obtained CCTV footage showing him leaving his home at about 8:30pm Tuesday.
Assistant Commissioner McKenna said the independent review would determine a time and cause of death, and examine the response.
"We want to ascertain what's happened in relation to the timings of our search, we want to make sure that we've got the appropriate systems and processes are being reviewed," he said.
The death is not being treated as suspicious.
On Thursday, detectives went door to door speaking to people near where Mr Buckingham was found.
The critical incident investigation is subject to an independent review and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
