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Swedish man, 80, hospitalised after getting lost in Alicante countryside trying to release a pet turtle
The octogenarian was found disoriented, dehydrated and covered in cuts and bruises in Algorfa, Alicante province
An 80-year-old Swedish man gave police, friends and family quite a scare when he disappeared for more than two hours in rugged terrain in Algorfa, Orihuela district, attempting to release a pet turtle close to a nearby river.
A 93-year-old friend, who was waiting for him in a car, raised the alarm when the octogenarian had not returned from what should have been a 10 minute task more than two hours later.
The natural area off the CV-920 is particularly overgrown and it appears the pensioner had become completely disoriented. The incident happened at around 4pm on May 1, but the Guardia Civil has only just revealed details.
The elderly man had intended to release his yellow-eared pet turtle and got lost. The Guardia Civil and Benijófar Local Police began searching the area and finally discovered the 80-year-old "disoriented and covered in cuts and bruises...he was also completely dehydrated, as temperatures were very high that day".Police alerted medical services and the elderly man was treated at the scene before being transferred to Torrevieja Hospital.
He is now recovering at his home in Torrevieja,and the turtle is being cared for at Alicante's Santa Faz Wildlife Recovery Centre.
Image: Guardia Civil
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