The family of Gus Thompson, an elderly Noordhoek man whose body was found nine days after he went missing on Thursday 14 July, has asked those wanting to express their condolences to consider making a small donation to Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) instead of flowers.
People’s Post reported that the 70-year-old who suffered from Alzheimer’s went missing from his care home near Lake Michelle in Noordhoek on Thursday 14 July.
Security footage showed Gus leaving the home at 18:00 on Thursday.
He again appeared on CCTV footage, on foot, passing the Chapmans Peak day-pass turning point two hours later.
He was heading in the direction of Hout Bay.
On Saturday 23 July at 09:00, a drone search located Gus’s body on Chapman’s Peak.
According to a media statement released by his family, Gus had walked down below a picnic site on Chapman’s Peak.
The statement said he had been found sitting beside a stream. It is being speculated that he had succumbed to hypothermia after falling asleep on the evening that he went missing.
“Chapman’s Peak was Gus’s favourite place in the world, and he loved to explore the mountains before his health declined and prevented him from doing so. His wishes were to have his ashes scattered in this location and our family is extraordinarily grateful that he passed peacefully, with no signs of any distress or injury in his favourite place,” said James Thompson, Gus’s son and family spokesperson.
A missing person report on Gus was spread widely on social media platforms, requesting members of the public to come forward with sightings or information. Responding to the call, hundreds of volunteers worked day and night over the past few days to try and locate him. Recognising all of the support they have received from their friends and “countless kind strangers”, the family sent out special thanks to the volunteers from WSAR.
“(They) gave nine days of their lives to dedicate each working moment to finding our beloved Gus and bringing us the much-needed closure. We are forever indebted to these incredible people,” the family statement read.
A small celebration of Gus’s life will be held on Saturday 30 July.
Details will be shared with friends and family in the coming days.
