By Isle of Wight Observer
Police dog, Bella, and her handler have been praised after helping to locate a vulnerable missing man on the Isle of Wight.
Officers were called to the Rookley area following concerns for the welfare of a man in his 80s, who had been seen appearing confused and shouting for help as temperatures reached the high 20s. A member of the public stopped to speak to him, but he was unable to communicate coherently and later wandered away.
PD Bella, working with her handler, PC Gemma Johnson, was called in and immediately picked up a scent.
She tracked along a bridlepath, through woodland and across three farmers’ fields, covering almost a mile before entering a field beside Long Lane.
The missing man was found trapped in thick brambles in a far corner of the field. He had fallen and become wedged in the undergrowth, leaving him unable to free himself.
By the time officers reached him, he was showing signs of dehydration. He was safely rescued and taken to hospital as a precaution.
Police praised the determination and skill of Bella and PC Johnson, saying the trust and partnership between them played a crucial role in finding the man.
Mal Butler