Man with dementia who wandered away from home found OK

A Columbia Falls man with dementia who wandered away from his home was found safe Friday after an extensive search.

The man was reported missing about 8:15 p.m. the Flathead County Sheriff’s office said in a release.

After an extensive search of all the roads in the area by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and the Columbia Falls Police Department — North Valley Search and Rescue and Two Bear Air Rescue were called to assist.

Soon after arriving on scene, a search and rescue tracking K-9 dog located the man’s track leaving the residence. The K-9 team followed the man’s track for a half mile to where he left the roadway. Two Bear Air was then redirected into this area and found the man laying under a tree, a few hundred feet from the roadway.

Three Rivers Ambulance and Bad Rock Quick Response Unit responded to treat the man for mild hypothermia. He was transported to North Valley Hospital for further evaluation.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all of the responding agencies for a speedy response. Without this massive search effort, the man would not have been found so quickly, the Sheriff’s office said.