Elderly Man Airlifted from Rugged Wilderness

An elderly Aliso Viejo man suffering from dementia was rescued by helicopter from rugged wilderness in Laguna Niguel, police said Tuesday.

Conflicting reports place the man between 75 and 84-years-old. The search began shortly after 3 p.m. when the man’s daughter called the sheriff’s department to report her father missing in the area of Soka University, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Jeff Hallock.

Duke, the department’s helicopter was dispatched to find him, but he was nowhere to be found in the immediate area, Hallock said.

“They expanded the search area and located the elderly male about two miles southeast of Soka University on a rugged slope of Wood Canyon, Laguna Niguel, far from any trails,” Hallock said. “Duke 1 was able to land the aircraft on a rugged slope. The tactical flight officer got out of the helicopter and hiked to the elderly male who was sweating, disoriented and appeared dehydrated in the 80 degree heat.”

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