71-year-old man with dementia found safe days after going missing at Hollywood Bowl, family says
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 71-year-old man with dementia has been found safe days after he went missing at the Hollywood Bowl, his family told ABC7 on Wednesday morning.
Harrison "Happy" Ferguson, who is diabetic, had not been seen since he attended a John Legend concert Saturday night with some friends.
His sister, Deidre Gilbert, said a good Samaritan apparently brought him into East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital on Whittier Boulevard early Wednesday.
"I was just in tears. I was in tears," Gilbert said. "I just hugged him and hugged him and cried. He says, I'm OK, I'm OK."
Mark, the good Samaritan, said he spotted Ferguson wandering around near the hospital. He hadn't seen reports of him being missing, but just recognized him as someone who needed help. He brought him in to the hospital's emergency room.
"People I think nowadays are lacking compassion," Mark said. "When you see someone having a hard time, try to take your time and feel out the situation for what's really going on. You might be surprised at who they are and what they're doing. It might not be portrayed with how they appear at the time."
Ferguson was undergoing tests and is expected to be alright, according to Gilbert. He will be transferred to a Veterans Affairs hospital because he is a veteran.
Sept. 26, 2023: Family desperate for answers in search for missing 71-year-old LA man with dementia
Ferguson's family said he became separated from his group of friends at the Hollywood Hills venue after stopping by the restroom. He then ended up on the wrong shuttle bus, which took him to East Los Angeles instead of home.
Ferguson walked into the Los Angeles County sheriff's station at East LA College shortly after midnight and asked for a ride home. The sheriff's department says deputies told him they could not drive him home but they offered to call him an Uber in addition to printing out directions to his home. They said at the time he was coherent and there were no signs of medical distress.
