Rescue dog finds missing man alive in Melk forest

A rescue dog found an elderly man with dementia alive in a difficult-to-access forest in Melk early Tuesday, after emergency teams searched for hours, ORF reported.

Police launched the search on Monday after the man went missing around midday. Rescue Dogs Lower Austria coordinated the operation, with teams from the Austrian Rescue Dog Brigade, the Red Cross, the Austrian Dog Sports Union and the Samaritan Association searching large areas into the night.

Police also deployed a dog handler, drones and a helicopter, while the Melk Volunteer Fire Brigade assisted. At about 2 a.m., a team from the Austrian Dog Sports Union found the man.

Stefan Tucek, the operation commander for Rescue Dogs Lower Austria, said persistence and teamwork had led to the successful outcome. Dog handler and training director Karin Kuhn described it as a positive result and a shared success for all the teams involved.