UPDATE, WEDNESDAY 12PM: Police say they believe missing 88-year-old Albert Smith hitched a ride with somebody in Ballan before disappearing.
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Mr Smith has been missing since Monday morning and police say he was dropped at a house in Mt Egerton, about 14km from Ballan.
As the search becomes even more desperate, Moorabool Inspector Brendon McCrory said police had exhausted all its search resources.
He turned to the public on Wednesday afternoon to help search for the elderly man.
“Our search methodologies have been exhausted now in terms of what we can do resource-wise,” he said.
“We are looking for another avenue to start the search from again. We just need another sighting from which he might act.”
Inspector McCrory said it was believed Mr Smith was with someone and he urged them to come forward.
He also urged all residents of the area to double-check their properties, including sheds and outbuildings.
Mr Smith was last sighted at the Ballan District Health and Care about 5.10am on Monday.
It’s believed he left the facility before 6.30am and was picked up in Old Melbourne Road a short time afterwards.
His heartbroken family today went public once again in the search for their father.
Daughter Wendy said it was “upsetting” to think how how her father had been able to walk out of the healthcare centre.
She described her father as a stubborn man who desperately wanted to return home.
However, it was out of character for him to disappear in such a way, Helen said.
"I think we're more surprised that he was able to get out of the hostel given that he mentioned to the staff that he was going home on that day...that's upsetting,” she said.
"There's going to be plenty of time to figure out how this happened and why this happened but we just want to find dad at the moment.
"We're getting more upset and more worried the longer this drags on.
"We're worried he's outside somewhere in pain."
Mr Smith is reported to have troubles with his leg and back and requires pain and heart medication.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Ballan Police Station on 5368 1303.
Watch the full video here.
EARLIER, TUESDAY 12PM: The family of a missing 88-year-old man have made a tearful plea for his safe return.
Albert Smith disappeared from an Inglis Street facility in Ballan about 7.30am on Monday morning and has not been heard from.
Daughter Wendy said it is believed he may have been headed to Mount Doran or Ballarat.
“He hasn’t gone home, despite saying that’s where he was heading. We’ve been there numerous times and he hasn’t been there,” she said.
“We think he might have been picked up by someone in a different location. He wouldn’t be able to last very long without his medications
“He has got quite severe back injuries and he’s on all sorts of heart medication as well.”
Watch the family speak here. Video: Moorabool News.
The family believe he had been unhappy living at the care facility in Ballan and wanted to return home.
“We were putting in plans to get him home but he hated where he was,” his daughter said.
“He was a fiercely independent man and he’s not aware of his limitations, but he’s taken the bull by the horns to try and get home but he hasn’t managed to.”
It is understood he has no mobile phone.
“He would be in pain, he’s on quite strong medication, he hasn’t had them for 24 hours, so I imagine he wouldn’t be mobilising very well
“I would imagine he would be anxious and confused at this stage and in a lot of pain. If anyone sees an elderly man in a lot of pain, that’s most likely dad
“Dad just give us a call, we won’t stop you from going home.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Ballan Police Station on 5368 1303.