Peter Roach, 80, missing from Canning Street, Rockhampton

As an extensive search almost reaches a week, there have been no sightings of an elderly man who is non-verbal, deaf and has only one arm. Police have announced they will scale back efforts.

Peter Roach.

Police are scaling back search efforts for missing 80-year-old man Peter Roach as the search now enters its sixth day.

Mr Roach was last seen walking on Canning St, The Range, about 3.40pm Sunday (May 21) and has not been seen or heard from since.

Mr Roach suffers from a medical condition which can cause him to suffer from confusion and with temperatures dropping into single digits of a night time, there have been increasing concerns for his welfare.

He is also understood to be non-verbal and deaf, and has one arm.

Police have co-ordinated an extensive search and rescue operation over south Rockhampton over the last five days, including the Fitzroy River.

Volunteers from SES have assisted, flood boats and the RACQ Capricorn Rescue helicopter.

A door knock was also undertaken and residents were urged to check their backyards however all efforts have come up short.

Police have confirmed it has been in “constant contact” with his family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time but express their gratitude for the many persons involved in the search.

Police ask the public to continue to check their properties for Mr Roach and to report any potential sightings to police.

Senior Constable Adam Blaik from Yeppoon Police Station and QPS Search and Rescue said the Bowlin Rd area was somewhere Mr Roach would frequent as a young man.

Speaking to The Morning Bulletin from the search base on Bowlin Rd on Wednesday Senior Constable Adam Blaik from Yeppoon Police Station and QPS Search and Rescue said they had received information that the Bowlin Rd area was somewhere Mr Roach used to frequent when he was young man.

“We had Rescue300, the rescue helicopter, up for fair bit of time early in the morning, we also have 34 SES personnel on the ground today,” he said.

“We also have three officers from stock squad on horseback and two officers from our traffic branch office on dirt bikes doing patrols of some sectors we’ve identified as areas where Mr Roach may be.

“The last bit of information we got was that he was seen on this road on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service general manager for Rockhampton, Capricorn Coast and Mount Morgan Allison Cassidy confirmed Mr Roach had been a patient at Rockhampton Hospital before he went missing.

Peter Roach was last seen wearing these clothes before he went missing.

“As soon as he was known to be missing, our staff immediately alerted police, ambulance and the patient’s next of kin,” she said.

“Our security staff are working with police to provide them with all possible information.

“This incident has been distressing for our team. Our thoughts are with this patient and his family, and we are hoping he is found safe and well.”

Queensland Police are urging residents in the South Rockhampton area to check their properties for Mr Roach.

Senior Constable Adam Blaik from Yeppoon Police Station and QPS Search and Rescue said the Bowlin Rd area was somewhere Mr Roach would frequent as a young man.

Rockhampton Patrol Group Inspector Mark Burgess said on Monday afternoon the search for Mr Roach was ongoing.

“We have had a number of assets involved in the search from the early hours of this morning,” Inspector Burgess said.

“Rescue 300 has been up in the air for most of the day searching around the Fitzroy River, around the Port Curtis flood plains, those types of open spaces.

“We have had a number of staff from the State Emergency Service as well out.

“We have had two flood boats operating up and down the Fitzroy, on the northern and southern banks.

“We have had a number of police vehicles, up to nine crews, patrolling the streets.

Rockhampton Patrol Group Inspector Mark Burgess holding an image of missing man Peter Roach. Picture: Aden Stokes

“We haven’t had success to date.

“We are asking all residents in South Rockhampton to look anywhere he could be hiding.

“I invite anybody with any information or any possible sightings to report it immediately to PoliceLink, otherwise ring Triple-0.”

Mr Roach is described as caucasian in appearance with brown eyes, dark and grey hair and was last seen wearing a grey jumper, maroon shirt with long blue pants, and brown shoes, as pictured in this article.

He is also described as being non-verbal.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is also urged to contact police immediately.

Originally published as Peter Roach, 80, missing from Canning Street, Rockhampton