This is the dramatic moment that a drone found a missing elderly man who was lost in thick reeds almost a day after he disappeared.
Peter Pugh, 75 sparked a major search after vanishing during a walk with his family on a beach in Brancaster, Norfolk.
He was found by a police drone in water nearly a day later at nearby Titchwell Marshes where rescue teams were called to pull him free.
Peter was then taken by air ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn where he was treated for hypothermia.
However it has since emerged he may not have been found without the help of a £250,000 specialist drone which spotted him from the air.
As well as filming footage from the air, the drones have thermal imaging, check for fire hotspots and assist in the search for missing people.
Norfolk Constabulary sergeant Alex Bucher, who was part of the search operation, said: “This is a great example of multi-agency working at its best and through our teamwork we were able to successfully locate Peter and return him back to his family on Father’s Day.
“There is no doubt that without the police drone we would not have been able to locate him in the time we did. The police drone allows us to search areas that are difficult to access and within close range where a helicopter may not be able to get.
“Approximately 50 people were directly involved with this search operation and it was through their dedication and hard work we were able to save this man’s life.”
An alert went out on Saturday evening after the man was last seen at about 5.10pm walking from Brancaster towards Titchwell.
The coastguard search and rescue team were involved in the search for the man, along with Norfolk police – but it was called off just before 2am.
The search resumed later on Sunday morning, and the man was found in the water in a reed bed at Titchwell Marsh just before 4pm.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said he had been found after an ‘extensive search’.
Rescuers from Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue were then directed by police to wade through the marsh to get to save him before he was taken to hospital.
Inspector Lou Provart, tactical firearms commander and incident manager for Norfolk police, said on Twitter: “A welcome conclusion to a long and difficult search.
“Technology in our new drones once again proving its worth. Thanks to all involved in the search.”
