Paramedic Uses Social Media to Rescue Missing Man After Six-Mile Walk
Rapid 999 Response Saves Wandering Gentleman
Ambulance technician Rosea Poynter, paramedic Chris Allum, and student Sophie Izzard sprang into action after two worried passers-by spotted a man leaning against a wall, unable to communicate. With no ID and only his first name, the good Samaritans called 999 fearing he might be having a stroke.
Quick Thinker Turns to Facebook for Clues
After deciding to take the man to the nearest hospital for safety, student paramedic Sophie had a lightbulb moment:
“We searched social media and found a Facebook post from Derbyshire Constabulary about a high-risk missing person.”
The post revealed the man had been missing for seven hours from his home in Alfreton. The crew contacted the police officer handling the case and stayed with the man until his family arrived.
Rosea praised Sophie’s quick thinking: “We’re very proud of Sophie for coming up with the idea to search online—it helped us reunite the gentleman with his family.”
Six-Mile Sojourn from Alfreton to Eastwood
In his missing hours, the man had walked an astonishing six miles, heading towards Nottingham—where he grew up. His daughter revealed:
“Dad loves his walks and sometimes wanders off. We were really worried—it was a scary time.”
She thanked the ambulance crew, police, and passers-by for their care and swift action that kept him safe and well fed.
Derbyshire Police Applaud Public for Social Media Support
Kate Viles of Derbyshire Constabulary said:
“We rely on social media appeals to find missing persons and are grateful to the public for sharing them. We’ve had many success stories thanks to this.”
The force is celebrating the safe reunion of the missing man with his family after a tense seven hours.
