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British WWII veteran sneaks out of nursing home to attend D-Day commemorations in France

Posted at 10:10 PM, Jun 06, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-06 22:11:14-04

An 89-year-old British WWII veteran defied all odds, sneaking out of his care home and traveling to Normandy for the 70th commemorations of the D-Day landings.

With his medals hidden under his coat, Bernard Jordan told care home staff he was going out for a walk. Instead, he boarded a coach for France, according to the BBC.

By the time the staff realized the Royal Navy veteran was missing he was already in Normandy.

Staff members became alarmed around 7:15 p.m. on Thursday and police started searching the area. They also checked with hospitals, bus services and taxi companies.

70 years later, D-Day vet Jim ‘Pee Wee’ Martin parachutes into Normandy again

It became clear what had happened only when the care home received a call from a veteran saying he met Jordan on a coach on the way to France.

The caller said Jordan would come home when he was ready.

Jordan reportedly checked into a hotel in Ouistreham, France, Thursday night.

Police found the story highly amusing. Brighton Commander Nev Kemp tweeted: “Love this: 89-yr-old veteran reported missing by care home who said he can’t go to Normandy for D-Day70 remembrance. We’ve found him there!”

The Daily Mail reports that Jordan was recently on his way back to England on a ferry from Ouistreham surrounded by burly troops from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Parachute Regiment who declared, “He’s our new best mate.”