Watch CBS News

'A True Hero': Maine State Trooper Carries Elderly Man With Alzheimer's To Safety After He Got Lost In Storm

VASSALBORO, Maine (CBS) -- A Maine State Trooper is being praised for coming to the rescue of an elderly man with Alzheimer's during a winter storm on Wednesday.

Troopers responded to Vassalboro at about 5 a.m. after it was reported that an 82-year-old had wandered away from home. A town plow truck driver reported seeing a man walking around earlier in the morning.

It was Trooper Tyler Harrington who found Bernard Perry, "suffering from severe hypothermia and frostbite," in a ditch on the side of the road.

"Trooper Harrington carried Perry to his cruiser as he was unable to walk and awaited the arrival of an ambulance," State Police said.

Maine State Trooper locates missing elderly man and carries him to safety On Wednesday, December, 22, 2021 at 5:00 a.m. Maine State Police responded to a report of an elderly man with Alzheimer's that had wandered away from his home in Vassalboro. Troopers responded to the scene and started searching the area. Troopers were able to gather intelligence information from a town plow truck driver that saw a man walking in the area in the early morning hours during the storm. Trooper Tyler Harrington was able to locate the man in a ditch on Mudget Hill Rd. in Vassalboro. The man, 82 year old Bernard Perry was suffering from severe hypothermia and frostbite. Trooper Harrington carried Perry to his cruiser as he was unable to walk and awaited the arrival of an ambulance. Perry was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta where he is recovering from his injuries. We are grateful Bernard Perry was found in a timely manner and is recuperating. We are also thankful for Trooper Harrington, Maine State Police Troopers and all Law Enforcement Officers in Maine who do an exceptional job protecting the citizens of Maine and all those who visit our great state.

Posted by Maine State Police on Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Perry is now recovering at a hospital.

Video of the rescue has now been shared more than 2,000 times on social media. Facebook users praised Harrington as "a true hero."

"We are grateful Bernard Perry was found in a timely manner and is recuperating," State Police said. "We are also thankful for Trooper Harrington, Maine State Police Troopers and all Law Enforcement Officers in Maine who do an exceptional job protecting the citizens of Maine and all those who visit our great state."

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.