COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: NPAS Crew Helps Locate Missing Person in Freezing Conditions

Last night, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) crew from Husbands Bosworth base played a vital role in locating a vulnerable missing person during freezing conditions in Cambridgeshire.

A woman living with dementia had been missing for over eight hours. Extensive foot searches by local officers had so far drawn a blank, and with temperatures dropping to -5°C, time was critical.

The Husbands Bosworth helicopter was deployed to assist. Using advanced onboard camera technology, the crew spotted the woman in the middle of a remote field near Grantchester, around two miles from where she was last seen. She was walking slowly, stumbling, and appeared disoriented.

The crew illuminated her position with the aircraft’s searchlight and guided officers to her location. Thanks to this swift intervention, the woman was reached safely and taken to safety. Given the freezing conditions, it’s likely she would not have survived the night without being found.

This incident highlights the life-saving impact of NPAS crews and technology in supporting local forces during critical searches. A timely reminder that fast response is the most important thing in emergencies of this kind, not budget.