Disappeared on Saturday November 16, Maurice, 81, suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was found safe and sound on Sunday November 17 in the middle of the forest in Haut-Rhin. His location was made possible thanks to his connected watch as well as the strong mobilization of authorities and citizens.
It’s a huge relief for Maurice’s loved ones. Disappeared on Saturday November 16 in Bantzenheim, in Haut-Rhin, this 81-year-old man, suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was found in the Hardt forest the next day.
The news was shared by his son-in-law, Grégory Bluch, on his Facebook account: “A big thank you to everyone who shared, helped in the search for Maurice, he was found conscious around 1:30 p.m.,” he said. -he writes.
“He’s tough.”
Although the mobilization of French and German law enforcement, as well as that of citizens, played a crucial role in the search, it was above all Maurice's connected watch which made it possible to locate him precisely. “He was within about 200 meters of the last GPS signal on his watch,” his stepson told France 3 Grand Est.
“He’s tough, that’s for sure. But it must be said that he’s been walking on average 3 or 4 hours a day for a year. I don’t know if he would have held out otherwise,” confided Grégory Bluch .
After a night spent in a forest where the temperature dropped to 2 degrees in the morning, and without eating or drinking for long hours, Maurice was found in a state of hypothermia but without after-effects.
The mayor of Blantzenheim, Roland Onimus, also expressed his relief in an interview with France 3 Grand Est. “It's a miracle. I've done search operations like this, because I was a firefighter, and I can tell you that it doesn't always end so well.”
Miracle or not, the outcome was happy for Maurice's family, who warmly thanked the research team. During the reunion, the relatives and residents present applauded the rescuers for a long time, a moment of joy shared with the councilor, according to our colleagues.
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