An elderly man is home safe and warm after becoming disoriented then lost during a long walk with his dog Sunday.
On March 9 at 8:15 p.m., the Williams Lake RCMP received a report that 80-year-old Brian Hinton had not returned home after going for a walk with his dog.
“He reportedly left his residence in 150 Mile House at 4 p.m. but had not been seen since,” the RCMP said.
Family members were concerned because Hinton suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease and the temperature was falling rapidly.
RCMP, along with Search and Rescue, 150 Mile House Fire Department and Police Service dog Clive were called to assist in locating Hinton.
At 10:30 p.m. RCMP dog handler, Corp. Gord Rutherford and police dog Clive, located Hinton and his dog Kody on a trail a few kilometers away from the house.
Hinton appeared to be suffering from hypothermia and was unable to walk.
After notifying family and emergency crews that Hinton had been located Rutherford carried him out on his back, through the deep snow for quite a long distance.
Hinton was later transported to the Cariboo Memorial Hospital where he received medical attention.
Hinton’s wife Beverly said her husband was so cold and wet, he wouldn’t have lasted another hour.
“He didn’t have a jacket on and his sweater was drenched,” she said.
Hinton had dropped his chap stick and that was one of the first things the dog picked up on, Bev added.
“The outcome was so wonderful,” Bev said. “This is a small and amazing community.”
