Drone Finds Elderly Plainville, MA, Man in 17 Minutes
By Heather Morrison
Source masslive.com (TNS)
As concern grew for a missing 86-year-old Massachusetts man, a high-tech search began as drones scanned miles of wooded area in Plainville.
Just 17 minutes later, they had their answer.
The man was found in a wooded area near the power lines. Search-and-rescue team members and Plainville Fire Department paramedics were able to quickly reach the location and provide a medical evaluation. He was then taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, where he is in stable condition.
“Tonight’s successful rescue is a testament to the power of collaboration, advanced technology, and the unwavering dedication of our law enforcement and emergency response teams,” Chief James Floyd said in a statement. “The ability to deploy specialized units so quickly made all the difference in reuniting this individual with his loved ones. We sincerely thank the public for their support and commend all personnel involved for a job well done.”
The man was was last seen around 7 p.m. and reported missing around 8:20 p.m. on Thursday.
He was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. Due to his age, the length of time he had been missing and temperatures being about 36 degrees, police decided to immediately coordinate response efforts.
The police department used Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (METRO-LEC), which is a regional mutual aid organization consisting of 46 cities and towns in southeastern Massachusetts. It provides specialized units, including search and rescue, drones, K-9 teams, tactical bicycle units, marine services, crisis negotiators and investigative units. The Massachusetts State Police also responded.
Within 40 minutes of calling the council, METRO-LEC deployed multiple specialized teams, including its drone unit, K-9 team, tactical bicycle unit, investigative services unit, and search-and-rescue team. This included three drones that conducted “a grid search covering more than two miles of dense terrain near the power lines in Plainville,” officials said.
At 9:47 p.m., 17 minutes after deployment of the drones, the missing man had been successfully located.
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