Missing Stroke Patient Found Safe In Spring Valley

UPDATE: Gregory Gavino, 52, was found safe Thursday morning at a family member's home. Family members called police about 8 a.m. to report Gavino had found his way to their Spring Valley home, San Diego Police Officer Steven Bourasa said. Officers picked up Gavino and drove him back to the hospital.

SAN DIEGO, CA – Police are seeking the public's help Thursday to find an at-risk East County man who left a San Diego hospital while recovering from a stroke.

Gregory Gavino, 52, was last seen around 2 p.m. Wednesday at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest, according to San Diego police. He was due for a conservatorship hearing Thursday.

Gavino recently suffered a major stroke, has partial paralysis on the right side of his body and walks with a limp, police said.

"Due to the stroke, Gavino suffers cognitive impairment and may have trouble dealing with basic quality-of-life situations," officials said in an advisory.

Gavino is white, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 180 pounds, with hazel eyes and graying black hair. He was last seen wearing a red sweater or sweatshirt, blue jeans and khaki or red hospital socks.

Gavino lives on Lamar Street in Spring Valley. He is known to frequent libraries or homeless shelters with computer access. Anyone with information about Gavino's whereabouts was asked to call San Diego police at 619-531-2000.

Image via San Diego Police Department