[UPDATE 3:36 p.m.: Found Deceased]Urgent Search for Elderly Man on the Mendocino Coast
[Stock photo by Matt LaFever]
California State Parks and the Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department have launched a search operation at Van Damme State Beach for an elderly man reported missing. The missing man reportedly suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
Scanner traffic indicates the man is 70-years-old, described as 5′ 9″ tall and last seen wearing black shorts, has not been seen since going for a swim a few hours ago.
Scanner traffic from 2:25 p.m. revealed that State Parks officials requested assistance from fire department personnel.
The fire department was asked to deploy their jet skis to scour the shoreline of the popular beach along State Route 1, just south of the town of Mendocino.
Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.
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I am very sorry that this older gentleman is lost along the Mendocino Coast near the Van Damme State Beach. I truly hope the folks from the California State Parks and Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department will locate him safe and return him to his family. I pray he has not fallen into the ocean or caught on the rocks.
Yet again, prayer comes through. After a while don’t you wonder if anyone is listening?
It may not always help but it never hurts.
Yes, but I don’t care if they are. The prays are for the gentleman State Park employees and the Mendocino Fire Department are looking for.
I hope that before he died he had a lovely afternoon at a favorite beach.
My condolences to his family and friends. His struggles are over.
My Uncle died at Van Dam State Park in the 1970s. He was a marine. He got caught in a bull kelp bed while scuba diving. Careful out there!
(Sighs) I probably knew him… ex-marine, was a CDFG Warden, very fit, in the prime of life. He was like some action star out of a movie.
Walked in the door Monday morning and there was a wreath on his office.
His death really impacted the local CDFG. (Sighs again… that provoked memories.)
Is 70 really considered “elderly”?
I’m about to turn 76 and I don’t consider myself elderly. I think a 70-year-old who is healthy enough to swim in the ocean would also not be considered elderly. I cringe when I see that term. “Senior” would be more appropriate and inclusive.
Your feelings don’t change reality. At over 70 you have in fact become “elderly” not being ready for what’s next is a personal problem…..
Senior Citizen status seems more appropriate.
Who let this guy go for a swim in 50 degree water?
Who “let” him? He’s an adult and can choose for himself.
It said he had dementia, should he be on his own?
“It’s said” oh by all means you’re fully educated on this subject and can weigh judgment….. like did you at all run that through some critical thought? I mean I doubt it, but maybe next time?