A vulnerable elderly man has been found and returned safe and well to his home in Shropshire after joint efforts by security staff and street wardens on Westside.
The 78-year-old man, called Barry, had been reported missing from Telford in Shropshire at around 6.30am yesterday (Thu) by West Mercia Police.
A clearly distressed elderly man was then spotted by security staff from Utilita Arena that same evening, and kept safe while they called an ambulance.
However, when an ambulance did not arrive, the Utilita security team called Westside BID’s street wardens, who immediately responded to the major concert and events venue.
And after discovering the confused man’s identity, senior street warden Pete Willis googled his name to discover that he had been reported missing by West Mercia police, who then arranged to collect him from Westside.
Mr Willis said: “This was excellent work by the security staff at Utilita Arena who were very vigilant and caring. The incident also demonstrates the value of the partnership between the security team and Westside BID’s street wardens.”
He said that security had spotted the man in the arena car-park some time after 7pm last night (Thu).
“They could see he was elderly and appeared confused. He said he had come to Birmingham by train and had been walking a long time and was lost and also very tired.
“They took him to a safe place in their office and called police, who advised them to call an ambulance. But when no ambulance arrived, they contacted BID wardens to see if we could help.”
Mr Willis, who arrived at Utilita Arena shortly before midnight, said the man had a bank card with his name on. He said: “This enabled me to google his name and I found he had been reported missing.
“I contacted West Mercia Police direct who were extremely pleased that we had found him and he was safe and well. The police said they were on their way to collect him, so we left him with the Utilita security staff to await their arrival.”
A follow-up message on the West Mercia Police website today (Fri) confirmed that a 78-year-old man reported missing from Telford had been found safe and well.
ENDS
