A major emergency services and community effort helped find a Dumfriesshire pensioner who was missing for almost 10 hours.
Sixty-nine-year-old Ian Bonnar from Sanquhar was “cold and confused” when he was eventually found in a field by a farmer on Wednesday night.
Mr Bonnar, who has Alzheimer’s, had been reported missing after failing to return home.
He had left to walk his two dogs, Dollar and Lola, at around 11.15am.
Police officers and members of both Moffat and Galloway Mountain Rescue Teams mounted a search operation as fears for Ian’s safety grew.
And more than 100 volunteers joined in the hunt in freezing temperatures and fog as darkness descended.
Mr Bonnar’s son, also Ian, told the Standard yesterday: “Dad was eventually found by a farmer. He was just standing in a field with his dogs.
“He walks often and it has never been a problem before but it had become very foggy and he must have become very disorientated. It looks like he had just carried on walking until he could walk no more.
“We are just so very, very grateful to everyone from the mountain rescue teams and the police to everyone who came out to look for him. It was amazing.
Mr Bonnar Jnr, from Gatehouse, added: “He is in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and they are looking after him. He was obviously cold and confused and they kept him in overnight. His dogs are fine.
“He was born in Kelloholm but has lived in Sanquhar for 42 years and both he and mum, Ann, are well known. Dad was a painter and decorator for many years and then a bus driver before he retired. It was so heartwarming to see how everyone rallied to help us.
“Everyone has been asking after the dogs too and they are both fine. We now plan to put trackers on them.”
Mr Bonnar’s brothers Ronnie and David have also praised the community response.
Ronnie said: “I would like to thank everyone that helped search for my brother, Ian. What a great wee community we have. The response was overwhelming and thanks again to every one of you.”
And David Knox-Bonnar added: “To everyone who took the time looking for my brother Ian, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude.
“I found it touching you would take time to look for him. Thanks to Police Scotland, Mountain Rescue and Sanquhar Town Hall Committee also.”
The search operation also involved a drone from the Search and Rescue Aerial Association Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service personnel.
The wave of public support could also now become a catalyst for a new community resilience scheme ready to spring into action, working with the police, should anyone else go missing in future in Upper Nithsdale.
Moffat Mountain Rescue Team co-ordinated the search and brought him to safety in a stretcher to a waiting ambulance before standing down at 11pm.
Team leader, James Coles said the volunteers were “delighted that Mr Bonnar and his dogs were found safe.”
Sanquhar Community Council has also voiced its appreciation to the local community, including people who travelled from Dumfries to help, who “did the town proud.”
A statement said: “We had over 100 people from Sanquhar, Kelloholm and Kirkconnel who took part in the search, we have a great community spirit in Upper Nithsdale.
“We have learnt a lot and will now put in place a plan for such emergencies if it is needed in the future. The community council have already spoken with Moffat Hill Rescue and we will draw up a procedure and get funding for maps, good torches, high viz waistcoats etc.”
