News
Released: May 22, 2025 - Thursday, 03:53 PM
The man had walked away from his home in Pismo Beach on 3-23-2025. He was considered at-risk because of a cognitive disability, had a hearing impairment, and was known to wander.
The SAR unit was able to determine an area where the man might be based on cell phone data before his phone died. Twenty SAR members searched the area but without success.
On 3-26-2025, members of SAR again searched the area with K9's along with members of the Sheriff's Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team which deployed drones to assist with the search. The drones were able to locate the man near a creek in an area overgrown with trees and brush. He was alive but was extremely dehydrated. The man was transported to the hospital where he was expected to make a full recovery. It is likely he would have died had he not been located.
"I couldn't be prouder of our Search and Rescue team," Sheriff Parkinson said. "Their tireless dedication, skill, and refusal to give up brought this man home alive after three days in the wilderness. This is exactly what commitment to community looks like."
Missing Person Located
Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: 3-25-2025Place of Occurrence: Pismo BeachVictim Information: Adult Male, 64Suspect Information: N/AOn 3-25-2025, the Sheriff's Office received a mutual aid request from the Pismo Beach Police Department to use the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) unit to help locate a missing 64-year-old man.The man had walked away from his home in Pismo Beach on 3-23-2025. He was considered at-risk because of a cognitive disability, had a hearing impairment, and was known to wander.
The SAR unit was able to determine an area where the man might be based on cell phone data before his phone died. Twenty SAR members searched the area but without success.
On 3-26-2025, members of SAR again searched the area with K9's along with members of the Sheriff's Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team which deployed drones to assist with the search. The drones were able to locate the man near a creek in an area overgrown with trees and brush. He was alive but was extremely dehydrated. The man was transported to the hospital where he was expected to make a full recovery. It is likely he would have died had he not been located.
"I couldn't be prouder of our Search and Rescue team," Sheriff Parkinson said. "Their tireless dedication, skill, and refusal to give up brought this man home alive after three days in the wilderness. This is exactly what commitment to community looks like."
