A 56-year-old Sandoval man with medical issues who had been missing for two days was found alive following a day-long search by multiple police, fire, and ESDA organizations.
Sandoval Assistant Police Chief Travis Nix does not believe he would have made it through the night due to his weakened condition and lying in a muddy and wet area near the former Sandoval landfill off of Illinois Street on the east side of town.
The search began around nine Thursday morning when the man was reported as a missing person who had not been seen for the past two days. The search gained traction late in the afternoon when a homeowner found the man’s walking cane and drinking cup in an area behind Team Phoenix.
As darkness approached around 7:30, a helicopter piloted by Iuka Assistant Fire Chief Chad Eagan flew over the area and spotted the man in the remote marshy area. After landing to coordinate those on the ground, Eagan took to the sky again and hovered over the area until searchers could move in and bring the man out.
Nix says the man was in ‘rough shape’ when located. He was taken by ambulance to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment of injuries.
Nix says multiple agencies helped in the day long search. The Irvington Fire Department and Centralia ESDA provided drones that were used during the search. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department and Odin Police along with the Sandoval, Odin, Centralia City and Centralia Fire Protection District, United Medical Response and the Marion County Housing Authority all assisted during the search.
