UPDATE: Missing Vernon woman found suffering from hypothermia

VERNON – An elderly woman reported missing early this morning in Vernon is receiving medical treatment after being found outside a local car dealership.

Akiko Akeda, 89, was last seen around 12:10 a.m. on March 7 after she walked away from a care facility in the 4700-block of 23 Avenue, Sgt. Tory Romailler says in a media release issued early Monday morning.

Hours later, Vernon Search and Rescue confirmed Akeda was found suffering from hypothermia. Spokesperson Leigh Pearson says in a media release she was transported to Vernon Jubilee Hospital by ambulance.

Seventeen members of Vernon SAR responded to the request from police to assist in the search about 2 a.m. Monday.

A car dealership employee was the first to find Akeda in a car lot around 7 a.m. and called 911. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 8:36 a.m., Monday, March 7, 2016 to say Akeda was located.

— This story was updated at 1 p.m. to correct that Akeda was found by a car dealership employee.