Mumbai: Missing US citizen comes home safely

Shalene Nayar finally smiled yesterday after twoandahalf agonising days The Marine Drive police called to say her husband Lowell Thomas Runion missing since Tuesday evening was found in Santacruz ldquoRelief coursed through merdquo said Nayar a Marine Drive resident Her husband known as lsquoTomrsquo had been missing since he left the Cricket Club of India CCI where he spent time with his attendant accompanying him as per routine Tom 83 from Kentucky USA suffers from memory loss He had been in Mumbai for four months ldquoThe attendant last saw him when he went out of the club gatesrdquo Nayar explainedJust vanishedTom seemed to have disappeared His wife added ldquoHe doesnrsquot carry money or a mobile phone due to his memory issues He may forget them or leave them behind due to his Elderly Memory Lossrdquo She added ldquoI often remind him wersquore in India not Kentucky to avoid confusionrdquo Unable to find him the family filed a missing personrsquos report ldquoWe searched near the club and even had the police drive up and down Marine Drive with the attendantrdquo Nayar explainedWord spreadsPost a complaint there were several alerts going around on social media WhatsApp groups stating that ldquoLowell Thomas Runion call him lsquoTomrsquo has been missing from next to Marine Plaza Hotel from July 30 6 pm He had a Cricket Club of India CCI membership card with him and he is a USA citizen He was wearing a blue shirt khaki shorts a black belt black socks and black Velcro sandals He is suffering from Elderly Memory LossrdquoTom Runion was found in SantacruzNayar said ldquoI had been following up continually emotions oscillating between hope and despair and then I got a call from Marine Drive police station on Thursday afternoon saying he has been found in Santacruz I felt weak from the relief and happiness all at oncerdquoCop talkMarine Drive police reported ldquoTom Runion was found and taken to Santacruz police station yesterday afternoon We had alerted all stations and Santacruz confirmed he was with themrdquo PSI Dilip Wahval part of the team led by Senior PI Nilesh Bagul and including API Sandeep Gawai of Marine Drive police station added ldquoWe reunited him with his family in the eveningrdquo The police advised ldquoThe public would do well if they file a missing persons report promptly and provide a recent photo last known location clothing details and any distinguishing features Inform us about any ailments and if possible a mobile numberrdquoThe returnNayar praised the police saying ldquoThe officers were stellarmdashcourteous and incredibly helpful People should trust and have faith in the police and the systemrdquoOn Tomrsquos return she noted ldquoTom doesnrsquot remember where he was for twoandahalf days and has cuts and bruises His CCI card is missing but he had a sweet and some keys with him He had a chicken sandwich Coke and ice cream and has now fallen asleeprdquoLife lessonsReflecting on the experience Nayar said philosophically putting the lens beyond this event ldquoThis is what 25 days as a street person does to you It breaks my heart I think of people who are down on their luck or just have no money what dignity and pride they must have to clean themselves brush their teeth comb their hair and try and look presentable with whatever clothing they have It must be so difficult for them Yet they smile and try the best they can They seldom cry poor merdquo