Missing Mississauga duo got lost on way to dialysis appointment

Elderly couple found safe
Missing Mississauga duo got lost on way to dialysis appointment

By ROB LAMBERTI, SUN MEDIA
05-31-07

An elderly Mississauga couple who got lost on their way to Oakville were found safe in their car in Stayner yesterday.

Concern for the well-being of Lascelles "Duncan" Matheson, 79, who suffers from a serious kidney condition, and his wife, Vinnel Plummer-Matheson, 75, grew when they failed to show up for his dialysis appointment at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital at noon Tuesday.

Police said the couple are in good condition and Lascelles was going to undergo treatment for his condition.

As relatives spoke to the media yesterday afternoon, OPP stopped the Taurus driven by Vinnel in the town on Hwy. 26, south of Wasaga Beach.

"I'm feeling great," nephew Trevor McCleod told reporters after the elderly couple was found. "Joyous."

Peel Sgt. Taufic Saliba said the couple were taken to Collingwood hospital for a checkup.

Police said they left their Tucana Ct. home, in the Hurontario St.-Eglinton Ave. area, around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday but they never reached their destination.

DISORIENTED

Doctors feared Lascelles' condition would deteriorate significantly if he didn't receive treatment. The hospital notified family, who in turn notified police.

Police believe the couple became disoriented, having recently moved to Mississauga from Kingston.

Prior to being stopped by OPP, the couple were seen at a gas station on Hwy. 6 in Clapson's Corners in Hamilton at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday.

Vinnel had asked the attendant for directions to Mississauga, Saliba said.

McCleod said he rode an emotional rollercoaster. He wants to tell the couple that next time, "please, a phone call and we'll be right there."

"A great big sigh of relief," niece Clover Hemans said. "I didn't get too much sleep ... One of the times I'm glad to see an OPP car pulling over one of my relatives."

http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2007/05/31/4222212-sun.html