A Dixon man who went missing Saturday afternoon was located safe in a wooded area in the early hours of Sunday.
Michael McLaughlin, 77, was reported missing to the Dixon Police Department at approximately 1:30 p.m. on January 17.
He was last spotted in the 400 block of South Dixon Ave. about an hour before police began their search.
As hours passed and McLaughlin remained missing, officers turned to social media in search of the 77-year-old.
They requested community members to keep a lookout, examine security cameras, and search outside buildings where someone could wander in.
Just after 2:30 a.m., the Dixon Police Department received a call reporting a person shouting for aid near Countryside Lane.
Police arrived and searched the area, finding McLaughlin in the woods nearby. Officers claim that because of the difficult terrain, they had to carry him to safety.
Dixon City Fire Department paramedics reportedly provided McLaughlin with medical treatment.
Dixon Chief of Police Ryan Bivins expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the successful rescue.
“We would like to thank the citizen who contacted the department and provided critical information, which ultimately saved Michael’s life,” said Chief Bivins.
