Gwinnett County police officers are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a missing 77-year-old man found submerged in a creek near I-85 in Buford on August 21.

The rescue followed an intense search that began when officers responded to a missing person report from the man’s concerned family on August 20. The family, who reported that the man’s car was also missing, feared for his safety, citing possible mental health issues.

Officers quickly leveraged traffic cameras in the area and located the man’s Chrysler Pacifica parked along I-85 Northbound. However, an initial search of the area proved unsuccessful, leading officers to list the man as a missing person under a Mattie’s Call—a critical alert for missing elderly or disabled individuals.

Determined to find the man, officers from the North Precinct returned to the scene the following morning to conduct a more exhaustive search. Their efforts paid off when Sgt. Brett Shirley called out and heard a faint response. He, along with Lt. John Cleland and Cpl. Andrew Palmer, ventured into the woods and discovered the man lying in a creek, where he had been submerged for several hours.

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The officers acted swiftly, pulling the man from the water and coordinating with Gwinnett County Fire Department personnel to get him medical attention. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.