On Sunday morning (April 2), Marshall Security was alerted about an 86-year-old man, who had reportedly gone missing.
The man had left his Umhlanga Rocks home for church at about 5pm and had not returned.
The security company's operations team was activated and an extensive search of the surrounding areas was conducted but with no result.
Marshall Security spokesman Kyle van Reenen said they later received information that the vehicle had been spotted in the Inanda area. Contact was made with an informer who led the team to the location where the vehicle had been abandoned, in the Amatata rural area, about 50km from where the man was last seen heading to church.
Further information led to the recovery of the missing man at a house in the nearby village. The local villagers had spotted him walking along a dirt road the night before and had suspected something was wrong. The locals took the man into their home to ensure his safety overnight, while contact was made with one of the villagers' relatives who informed authorities.
Van Reenen said, although disorientated, the man was found in good health and high spirits. Further investigation revealed that he suffers from a medical condition which affects his ability to know his whereabouts, and had driven in the wrong direction, in an attempt to get home after church on Saturday evening.
His vehicle had eventually run out of fuel near Inanda.
Marshall Security activated a helicopter and the man was airlifted to safety, while special operations and SAPS members worked to to refuel his car, by siphoning fuel from one of the team's vehicles.
The car was then driven out of the mountainous terrain.
Van Reenen said the elderly gentleman and his vehicle were later returned home to a loving reception from concerned wife and loved ones.
"We would like to express a special mention to the people of Amatata for their outstanding level of hospitality and care. A true example of the spirit of Ubuntu."