James Ballantyne: Search for missing 87-year-old enters fourth day, tracker dogs searching with police and SES

Trackers dogs have been deployed throughout the Wagin area to assist in the fourth day of the desperate search for missing 87-year-old man James Ballantyne.

Police and the State Emergency Service have been on the ground in Wagin since Mr Ballantyne’s worried family reported him missing on Saturday evening.

Efforts were scaled back overnight on Monday and renewed from around 7.30am on Tuesday morning, with 12 police and 20 SES units, four mounted police officers, a drone operator, and three privately hired tracker dogs out searching for the elderly man.

Wagin police officer-in-charge acting Sergeant Edward Duffy said Tuesday’s efforts would be concentrated on reconfirming areas where there had been confirmed sightings of Mr Ballantyne, and continuing to expand the search outwards from the townsite.

The 87-year-old, who lives with dementia, did not return from his walk on Leonora Street on Saturday, and has not been seen now for almost 72 hours.

More than 40 police and State Emergency Service units were on the ground on Monday scouring the vicinity of the Wagin townsite.

Search operations honed in on an area near Parkeyerring Lake on Sunday, about 7km south of Wagin, after a sighting from a passing motorist and in another area north between Wagin and Narrogin.

Acting president of the Shire of Wagin Bryan Kilpatrick said the response from the community had been “overwhelming”, as the search continued for the well-known member of the tight-knit community.

“The Wagin community has united in its efforts to find Mr Ballantyne,” he said.

“Search efforts are being spearheaded by our volunteer SES crews, supported by SES units from across the Great Southern, who have been working tirelessly through bushland and reserves in the townsite, surrounds and beyond.

“Community members who are unable to participate directly have generously supported volunteers through donations of food and refreshments, while the Wagin Country Women’s Association has provided meals for search personnel.

“Over the weekend, shire officers assisted WA Police with door-knocking, searching under bridges and other shire buildings and facilities, and reviewing residential CCTV footage.

“In supporting the search effort the shire has not lost sight of impact on the Ballantyne family who are wonderful members of our Wagin community.

“The shire thanks everyone who has helped to date asks our community and surrounds to be vigilant.”