THERE was celebration among family, police and SES workers as missing Calista man Werner Pietsch was found safe in Wellard this morning.
His son Kevin said it was a huge relief after having a sleepless night since his dad went missing yesterday at 2.45pm.
“I want to thank the inspector and all the police who attended and the SES,” he said.
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“What can you say; you don’t believe it – it’s exhilaration.
“You also want to make sure it’s the right person; mum’s pretty shaken up more so than dad actually.”
Kevin said his father’s dementia led to the disappearance.
“Anyone who’s had any dealings with a person with dementia realises they don’t actually understand or know what trouble they caused they just don’t have that comprehension,” he said.
“He’s sitting down at the moment in the car behind me quietly enjoying a ham toastie and saying ‘oh what’s going on’ so he’s quite ok.
“It’s mum and the rest of us that are more shaken up.
“When you have a member of family that has dementia even though should keep an eye on them 24 hours, you can’t be a prison guard – it only takes a second and he’s just bolted out the back gate.”
After a cold night Kevin said his father appeared to be in good health.
“He seems good he’s got a couple of marks where he’s obviously taken a tumble somewhere from wherever he’s been so he’s done well but he doesn’t seem to have been affected,” he said.
“I can’t give words enough at how relieved I am.
Kevin also thanked all the people who put information on Facebook.
“Without them it wouldn’t have occurred the way it has, I didn’t get any of the trolling you sometimes see on social media; I was really thankful for that,” he said.
“It was good thank you very much to the community; it’s just amazing.”