HOSPITAL bosses have launched an investigation after a 90-year-old patient with Alzheimer’s went missing — and was found almost 175 miles away in Bristol.

Police launched a search for Jonathan Hastilow-Sands, of Newgate Drive, Little Hulton, after staff from Royal Bolton Hospital reported him missing just after 10am on Saturday.

As the day went on and there were no sightings of Mr Hastilow-Sands, Greater Manchester Police widened its search, launching a public appeal for information and calling in Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

But just before 9pm on Saturday officers, were contacted by the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, whose officers said they had located him at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Mystery still surrounds how the pensioner — who had been an inpatient for “several days” at the Royal Bolton — ended up almost 175 miles away.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said Mr Hastilow-Sands had injured himself at a bus station in Bath and was taken to hospital 12 miles away in Bristol for treatment.

The spokesman said: “He’d fallen at Dorchester Street bus station and was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary, which is where it was discovered that he was a missing person.”

The spokesman added that arrangements were being made to return him to Bolton.

Mr Hastilow-Sands’ neighbours described him as an “independent” man who “kept himself to himself”.

Thomas Bailey, aged 27, said: “I’ve known him since he moved here about 13 years ago.

“I don’t think he’s got any family here, I think they’re in Germany.

“He likes to go out everywhere and takes taxis into Bolton.”

Leah Chester, aged 26, added: “He’s quite quiet, I’ve never seen him with family.

“He was in the war and lived in Germany for a bit I think but came back here about 60 years ago.

“He always says hello all the time and will post Christmas cards.

“He likes photography and likes to go out. He won’t just go shopping around here — he’ll go into Bury or Bolton.”

A spokesman for the Royal Bolton Hospital said: “We will be investigating the incident.”