Glad to be back where he’s loved

Jamie Kininmonth is delighted to be reunited with his grandparents after missing for three days. Picture / Brett Phibbs

A brain-damaged man has been found alive and well by a motorist who recognised the missing man on the street while reading a story about him in the Herald.

Concern had been growing for Jamie Kininmonth's safety since Monday night when the 25-year-old failed to arrive back in Auckland on a bus from Rotorua.

Relatives had driven to South Auckland, where he was last seen, and spent hours walking the streets handing out flyers in the hope someone may have seen him.

Police were also combing the streets, making inquiries and releasing footage of Mr Kininmonth using an Eftpos card at a petrol station with two unidentified men, in the hope someone would recognise them.

But in the end, it was a front-page story and picture in the Herald that led to the Ranui rehabilitation centre resident being found safe and sound.

Sergeant Gaylene Rogers said a man was sitting at the lights on Roscommon Rd in Manurewa and scanning the newspaper when he looked up and recognised Mr Kininmonth.

"It was absolute chance. He looked up and saw him, so that was great," said Ms Rogers.

After comparing the picture and person in front of him several times for accuracy, the motorist, known only as Peter, called 111.

He then waited with Mr Kininmonth, who suffers from short-term memory loss as a result of a car accident 10 years ago.

When the call came across the police radio that Mr Kininmonth may have been found, Mangere Constable Ligi Asiata and his partner attended. They had been involved in the search on Wednesday.

When they arrived at Roscommon Rd they found a hungry and tired Mr Kininmonth sitting on the side of the road with Peter.

"He said, 'I'm glad you guys are here. I'd like to go home and I'm really hungry'."

On the way to the Mangere police station Mr Kininmonth satisfied his hunger with a pie and a cigarette.

Mr Asiata said it was a great feeling finding him safe and well.

Mr Kininmonth's grandmother, Beth, said yesterday that it had been a stressful few days.

Because of his brain injury, Mr Kininmonth has little recollection of the past few days.

It is known that he got off his bus at Hamilton during a stop and failed to get back on.

From there it is believed he made friends with someone and caught a ride to South Auckland, where he spent three nights on the streets, unable to find his way home and without any money.

"I'm all right, though. Just a bit tired, that's all," he said at a media briefing on his return.

"I'm just happy that I'm in Auckland at the moment where people love me and take care of me."