THE brother-in-law of a vulnerable man who went missing in Chard has thanked the community and police after he was found safe and well.

A huge search was launched for Vasco Manuel Macedo, 38, after he was reported missing from his home on Friday, May 29.

Officers frantically searched for Vasco, who has a string of learning disabilities and the mental age of a 13-year-old, using police search dogs and helicopters.

His brother-in-law Pedro Santos also made an emotional appeal at a police press conference to try and track Vasco down.

Thankfully, on Thursday last week, almost a week later, Vasco was found safe and well at the back of the Tesco supermarket in Chard by a mother and son walking nearby, after being missing for almost a week.

He had dug himself a hole and covered himself up with some blankets he had found nearby.

Now, Mr Santos spoke exclusively to the News to issue a heartfelt thanks to the local community. Mr Santos said: “I want to thank everybody so much for all their help in finding him.

“The police were great, they were so helpful. They were calling every day, morning and night, to update me on their developments and to ask more about him.

"The community of Chard was great as well. Everyone, from the oldest people to the youngest people, did their bit to help try and find him, they were great and I want to thank them so much.

“I want to thank the young boy and his mother. They found Vasco when nobody else could.

“He was behind the back of Tesco, he had made himself a den. He had dug himself a small hole and covered himself with blankets.”

After he was found, Vasco was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton for routine checks, and despite his ordeal, was in good health.

Speaking of the moment he realised his brother-in-law was missing, Mr Santos said: “It was terrifying. Because of his condition, we didn’t know what had happened or where he could have gone.

“The frustration of not knowing where he was or where he would go, that was the biggest worry because of his health problems.”

Now, Vasco is back at the family home and is enjoying life.

Mr Santos said: “Vasco is okay. We went to hospital to check him but he was fine.

“We have taken him to the GP as well because he hasn’t been diagnosed before, and we want to know what treatment we have to give him and to see how far this problem has gone.”