Searchers are still searching for a frail man who walked out of a Dunedin psychiatric hospital yesterday.

About 40 search and rescue volunteers and police scoured the southern city's suburbs throughout the night looking for Gordon "Gordy" McLean, 63.

A police spokeswoman said a fresh team would focus on the city hill suburbs from 7am.

Police are concerned McLean, who is described as very frail, may have fallen and are appealing for people to check their properties thoroughly, particularly in the Halfway Bush area.


The missing man left Wakari Hospital in Taieri Rd at 3pm.

He was last seen wearing a dark polar fleece top, red polo shirt and trousers. He was also wearing brown slippers and a sleeveless black puffer jacket.

Meanwhile, searchers are looking for a second elderly man missing from a Johnsonville rest home for the past 18 hours.

Graham Penny, who suffers from dementia, left his residential care around 4.30pm yesterday.

Police today said they would be searching the area surrounding the rest home and across Wellington and Lower Hutt.

Sergeant Matt Wheble asked people to keep an eye out for the missing 66-year-old.

He said police and his family were very concerned for his safety.

If people had any information which could help find him, they are asked to call 04 381 2000.