The RCMP put a helicopter in the air on Tuesday to help find a well-known 80-year-old Colchester County man.
Willard McKay has been missing since last Friday. The RCMP previously said he was last seen leaving the Ocean Lanes bowling alley in Tatamagouche, N.S., but now they say he was seen three hours later, at a home in the New Annan, N.S., area.
His disappearance has led to an extensive search spanning from Truro, to Debert, to Tatamagouche. An RCMP helicopter searched for four hours Tuesday, while community members and officers have been scouring trails and back roads.
Police say he has several medical conditions and his family is concerned for his safety.
McKay is a fixture in the community. His disappearance has prompted a public plea from his grandson online, asking for others to help find him and bring him home.
“He's a known individual that will help people out,” said Const. Dal Hutchinson of Halifax RCMP. “He would drive them home if they had been to the local establishment and been having a few drinks to get them home safely.”
Some members of the community have even made posters in an effort to find him. A Facebook page called “Bring Willard McKay Home” has been created and it has more than 1,250 members, all sharing information and messages of hope and support for the family.
“Everyone knows Mr. Mckay,” said Hutchinson. “They see him on a regular basis. He's well-liked, and that's the reason why we've had such an outpouring of concerned citizens over in the Tatamagouche area."
The RCMP say they've received a significant amount of calls from the public on potential sightings or suggestions for areas to search. They say Ground Search and Rescue hasn't been called in because they haven't found McKay's van, and therefore don't have a starting point to search.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Amanda Debison.
