By Gareth Finighan and Jonathan Bell

Missing Canadian tourist William Grange is “scared” and in urgent need of help, according to his son John Grange who made an emotional plea for locals to check their properties and help in the search.

Mr Grange, 67, a retired lawyer from Ontario who suffers from short-term memory loss, disappeared on Friday night after going for a walk at 10pm outside Cambridge Beaches in Sandys.

Mr Grange could be sheltering in a garden shed, according to his family.

“I think he’s scared — I think he doesn’t know where he is,” his son said at a press conference this afternoon. “He has a history of seizures and hasn’t had any medication in the past two days. We’re not sure what the implications are.”

Mr Grange was staying with his wife for five days at the resort and had gone for a walk on the grounds when he apparently lost track of his location and “didn’t remember how to come back”.

His son described his father as “living in the moment” but said he felt sure his father would ask for help if approached.

“If you went up to him and he introduced himself, then walked away and came back five minutes later, he wouldn’t remember.”

Mr Grange described his father as “a really good man” who enjoys golf and whose condition might not be immediately apparent.

“I would implore all of Bermuda to please take a look as you’re driving — when you go home, take a look in your back yard, in a shed, under the stairs, anywhere where someone could be hiding. Take that extra look. I really believe that we are going to find him.”

John Grange told The Royal Gazette that his father began experiencing bouts of short-term memory loss after he suffered a series of mini strokes a few years ago. He said that his father had gone missing once before as a result of his condition, but was found after several hours.

The son praised residents who have already helped in the search for his father.

“You have a phenomenal community here — the help and support we have received has been amazing,” Mr Grange said.

At an earlier press conference this morning, Detective Inspector Mark Clarke said police were unaware that Mr Grange had gone missing before.

But he confirmed that police have now upgraded the search to high priority, with two police teams assigned to the job of tracking down the tourist.

Det Insp Clarke also renewed pleas for residents to assist in finding the missing tourist.

“We are concerned for his safety and have mobilised two additional search teams,” Det Insp Clarke said.

“Searches of the Cambridge Beaches Resort property, as well as the surrounding Sandys parish area, have proved unsuccessful to date. The Bermuda Police Service has conducted a land and sea search since Friday night and locating Mr. Grange is a high priority.

“We are in the process of trying to mobilise community efforts with a view to further assist our efforts. There have been a few sightings thus far in the eastern end of the Island but nothing as of yet has yielded any credible results.

“It should be noted that all ports of entry have been canvassed and he has not officially left the island.

“Again, locating 67-year-old William Grange is a critical priority for the service and we are appealing for the public’s assistance in locating him.

“The Bermuda Police Service has appointed a Family Liaison Officer to assist the family in these trying times.”

Mr Grange is white, 5ft 9in tall and has white hair. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, brown jacket, beige pants and brown shoes.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 295-0011.

Det Insp Clarke also said anyone with a possible lead should feel free to call him at 717-0282.