Police search for American father, 79, missing in Thailand

Police are searching for an American pensioner who has gone missing in Thailand.

Thomas Gerald Sherrett, 79, left his home to go shopping in Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok, on Monday morning.

Footage shows the American, seen in a yellow cap, grey shirt, and blue shorts, leaving the housing estate in Pathum Thani, on the outskirts of the capital, at around 9:26 am local time.

But he reportedly never arrived at the Robinson Srisamarn shopping mall, where he had told his family he was going.

His son, Phitthayut, 38, said Sherrett, from Portland, Oregon, had recently experienced episodes of confusion and memory loss, raising fears he may have become disoriented.

The family reported him missing to the police at around 10:30 pm on Monday as they appealed to the public for help finding him.

Speaking to Asia Pacific Press today, Phitthayut said locals had last seen his father asking for directions in the Ari area of Bangkok.

He said: ‘They said he had been walking around asking people for directions to Victory Monument.

‘The person told us my dad was carrying his passport and what looked like a hotel registration document.

‘The witness said he seemed confused and wasn't making much sense. They also noticed a bump on his forehead.'

Sherrett is understood to have been living with his family in Thailand for around two to three years, but rarely went out by himself.

Phittahayut said he normally stays at home but left home that day without realising his phone could not connect to the internet.

The family believes he had been trying to visit a friend who lives in the Ari area, but became lost on the way.

Worried Phitthayut added: ‘One of his friends used to live around there, so we wondered whether he might have been trying to find him, but we've contacted the friend and found out that he's currently in America.

‘Our family is extremely worried about his safety. We just want to find him and bring him home safely.'