Missing Man Suffering From Dementia Found Suffering From Extreme Cold in Mercer County

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Project Lifesaver team rescued a 74-year-old man who suffers from dementia/cognitative disorder who went missing in frigid temperatures Wednesday night.

The man was missing for about an hour and a half, and was disoriented and suffering from extreme exposure to the cold.

According to the National Weather Service, it was 17 degrees with a wind chill factor of 2 when the man was found in the parking lot of Prince Fried Chicken Restaurant near the intersection of North Olden Avenue and Prospect Street in Ewing, about 2.25 miles from his Trenton home.

He was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center – Trenton, where he was evaluated and later reunited with his family.

The man was reported missing around 5 p.m., and members of the Project Lifesaver team tracked him using a Project Lifesaver-tracking bracelet issued by the Sheriff’s Office that he was wearing.

Five Project Lifesaver officers were involved in the search. Surrounding police departments in Trenton, Ewing and Lawrence were notified of the incident and assisted in the search.

“Our Project Lifesaver Unit performed in an outstanding manner and perhaps saved a life on Wednesday evening,” Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler said. “Older, disoriented persons are less able to maintain their core body temperature in extreme weather, which can be fatal.”

The program, called Project Lifesaver, identifies and quickly locates persons who might wander or disappear from their property. Families interested in becoming involved in the program should contact the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office at 989-6109.