Family is distraught

Patient (76) disappears from hospital without a trace

The search for Johann K. (small picture) began that very night.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/ÖRHB, Tanja Riemer)

Major search operation in Linz on Friday night: a patient with dementia (76) had disappeared from the Kepler University Hospital the previous evening. A video shows him leaving the hospital. "We drove around looking until half past two in the morning," says his daughter-in-law, who asks for help.

76-year-old Johann K. has been missing from the Kepler University Hospital in Linz since around 5 p.m. on Thursday. The man suffers from dementia - although the hospital was not aware of this - and was admitted to the emergency room. There was a lot going on there on Thursday with 280 patients, and the 76-year-old may have made his way out at an unnoticed moment. A video shows him leaving the hospital. Since then, there has been no trace of him.

"He is 1.80 meters tall, has thinning white hair and a full white beard," Johann K.'s daughter-in-law is now asking for help in the search. At the time of his disappearance, the 76-year-old was wearing black trousers, a short shirt, a light brown sweater and a black jacket. The patient also had a venous catheter in his left hand.

The search for Johann K. (small picture) began that very night.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/ÖRHB, Tanja Riemer)

Emergency services and family search
In addition to the police, the Red Cross also searched for the missing man on Friday night: "Our search dogs and the drone squadron have been deployed," the rescue service told "Krone".

And the 76-year-old's family was also out and about all night: "We drove around in cars until half past two in the morning looking for him everywhere. We went to all the pubs and public toilets nearby," says his daughter-in-law. The public transport operators and cab companies in Linz were also informed.

The emergency services met at the hospital.

(Bild: ÖRHB)

The emergency vehicles were parked outside the hospital.

(Bild: ÖRHB)

Shortly before 3 a.m., the emergency services stopped their search without success for the time being, but continued early Friday morning.

Hospital staff on the lookout
All employees of Kepler University Hospital were also alerted. After all, it cannot be ruled out that the patient has returned and is staying in the large hospital complex. "We have made staff aware of this internally with a personal description and a picture of the missing person," says the hospital.