Missing man found dead in Gin Gin

THE Gin Gin community is mourning the loss of a "patient and gentle" man, who was found dead in bushland after he went missing from an aged care facility on Friday.

The 88-year-old man was reported missing from the Kolan Gardens home where he had lived for the past eight weeks, shortly after midday.

Bundaberg Police Inspector Kev Guteridge said a preliminary search failed to locate the man.

"The search was then ramped up and included members of the SES and the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter," he said.

More than 100 volunteers assisted police in the search, including horse riders from three Gin Gin horse sporting clubs, who combed the area for any trace of the elderly man.

CCTV from a service station on the northern end of the town captured the man walking quickly towards the Gin Gin Walking Trail at Black Gully.

"The search was stood down at last light on Friday, and was resumed at first light on Saturday morning," Insp Guteridge said.

It was near the walking trail that his body was found lying in tall guinea grass at 7.30am, Saturday morning.

"He had a number of medical conditions but police are unsure if any of those contributed to his death," he said.

Read the family's tribute to the man in tomorrow's NewsMail.