Elderly man walks over 10km to find 'old friend' at Kaohsiung steel plant

An 81-year-old man in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, embarked on an evening stroll and inexplicably found himself more than 10 kilometers from his home at the China Steel Corporation (CSC) facility.

The elderly gentleman, identified as Mr. Pan, approached security guards at the CSC gate, stating he was searching for an old friend. Disoriented and fatigued, he could only provide his name and recall walking from the Qianjin Elementary School area to the CSC plant.

Police were alerted and, upon arriving, found the man tired but able to communicate basic information. They discovered he had been reported missing by his family. Officers pieced together his background, learning he was born in the Qianjin district and had previously operated a lathe factory in Sanmin district.

Authorities confirmed his identity through the police system and contacted his family. Mr. Pan had apparently forgotten his way home during his walk, driven by fragmented memories to seek out a friend he believed still worked at CSC. He was safely reunited with his family.