Search for old man with dementia reduced, hopes low
Topic:Police
The streets of Wagin have "never been busier" as volunteers came from surrounding areas to search for the missing 87-year-old. (ABC Great Southern: Will Corbett)
In short:
A multi-agency search for an elderly man missing in Western Australia's south has been scaled back by police.
James Ballantyne, 87, went missing on Saturday morning while out for a walk.
What's next?
Authorities say there is only a slim hope of finding Mr Ballantyne alive, but local police will continue searching.
A multi-agency search for a missing 87-year-old man in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region has been scaled back, six days after he failed to return from his morning walk.
James Ballantyne, who lives with dementia, was last seen near Leonora Street in Wagin, about 230 kilometres south-east of Perth, on Saturday.
His disappearance sparked an extensive land and air search, with dozens of volunteers joining police to try to find him.
Their hopes were all but dashed on Thursday, with authorities significantly scaling back the operation.
Extensive search
Police used drones, a helicopter and plane to search for Mr Ballantyne, while his family organised tracker dogs and a private plane.
State Emergency Service volunteers from as far as Perth and Bunbury joined in, while others supported the search teams with food and supplies.
Acting Inspector Wasley said the community response was "absolutely amazing". (ABC Great Southern: Will Corbett)
A large image of Mr Ballantyne was projected onto a sign in the middle of the town to try to elicit information about his whereabouts.
A small farming community, Wagin has a population of about 1,400 people with locals and those in surrounding areas quick to jump into action.
"The community was just absolutely amazing, searching outside their houses, sheds, laneways," Great Southern Acting Inspector Craig Wasley told the ABC.
Residents have been out in force searching for missing Wagin man James Ballantyne. (ABC Great Southern: Will Corbett)
Shire of Wagin acting president Bryan Kilpatrick similarly praised the support from the community.
"The good majority of the community has been involved in some way or another, whether it's been searching, providing food, providing support," he said.
Community rocked
Mr Kilpatrick said it was "devastating" to have no answers six days into Mr Ballantyne's disappearance.
"It really rocks a community like this," he said.
Mr Ballantyne is a beloved member of the Wagin community. (Supplied: WA Police)
"Mr Ballantyne was a loved part of the community and his family are an important part of the shire, so it certainly has an impact."
Mr Ballantyne's family declined to speak to media, but passed on a message via Acting Inspector Wasley who said they wished to thank everyone involved with the search.
"They're aware of the effort that has been put in, the people that have been involved, and they are absolutely amazed and appreciate the effort that everyone has put in, including the community," he said.
Scaling back
Acting Inspector Wasley said police and SES had searched the target area to a "high degree" and would be pulling back external resources.
"Air wing, police horses, all of those resources have returned to Perth, SES have returned to their home locations," he said.
Authorities still hope to find Mr Ballantyne, though they have all but lost hope that he will be found alive.
"Look, the prospect of Jim being alive is probably not there anymore," Acting Inspector Wasley said.
"The family are aware of that and they accept that.
"Our aim is to find Jim and we will continue to search for him.
"The battle now becomes a local inquiry, so Wagin Police will continue with inquiries.
Anyone with information about Mr Ballantyne's whereabouts is urged to contact police.
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