Details emerge of 'true community effort' to find pensioner reported missing in Wooler for three days
Last updated 4th Sep 2025
An 88-year-old man reported missing in Wooler has been found "safe" following a three-day search involving police and mountain rescue teams, officers have confirmed.
Alan Fletcher was stretchered off a steep hillside to the south-east of the town after being located by members of the public late on Wednesday.
The pensioner, from Stockton on Tees, disappeared on Monday afternoon after heading towards the Duck Ponds on Wooler Common while visiting family in the area.
But it's only now that details of the "huge community effort" to find him have emerged.
Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team Mountain rescue teams revealed they were first called out by Northumbria Police to assist in the search for Alan on Monday evening.
Over the course of the three days, more than 70 Mountain Rescue volunteers and specialist dog teams from the Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England were involved in the search, alongside officers from Northumbria Police, the National Police Air Service (NPAS).
The search effort was boosted by members of the local community, including Mr Fletcher's family, shepherds and game keepers on quad bikes.
A spokesperson said: "Mountain Rescue teams were first deployed on Monday evening and continued through the night until 3.30am on Tuesday morning.
"Searching resumed mid-morning Tuesday before standing down at dark and again on Wednesday afternoon, covering extensive ground.
"The volunteers utilised handheld thermal imaging units and drones to aid the search.
"Late on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Fletcher was located by members of the public on a steep hillside to the south-east of Wooler.
"After being assessed and treated by a North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Paramedic and Mountain Rescue medics, he was evacuated on a stretcher using a steep slope rescue system and to a footpath and then carried 300m to the waiting ambulance.
"The Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter, Rescue 199, from Prestwick and the Great North Air Ambulance Service had been tasked to assist but ultimately were stood down."
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Local councillor Mark Mather is praising the community's response.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: "It really has been fantastic to see the community come together so quickly. From the first night, and that effort continued today.
"Police and mountain rescue have been working hard with helicopters and units in and around the town."
Locals were urged to check the areas around their homes in the Northumberland town as concern grew for the pensioner.
And CCTV footage was shared of his last known movements.
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Announcing the good news on Wednesday evening, a Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Missing man Alan Fletcher has been located safe.
"Thanks to the public who supported our appeal and search activity, as well as key partners including Mountain Rescue Teams and the National Police Air Service."
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