Gerardo Del Sorbo, an 82-year-old resident of Gragnano, disappeared on Monday 26 October 2026 while searching for mushrooms in the Foresta Umbra, at Coppa Croce in the municipality of Vico del Gargano, Foggia.
According to Il Mattino, Del Sorbo regularly travelled from Gragnano to the Foresta Umbra. On Monday morning he went into the woods to look for mushrooms and did not come back.
What happened
His companion alerted rescuers after Del Sorbo failed to return to the vehicle. The last recorded mobile-phone signal was detected at 13:15.
The exact circumstances remain unknown. The available reports do not establish whether Del Sorbo became disoriented, suffered a medical emergency, or encountered another problem.
Search operation
Search operations involved firefighters and ground teams, canine units and drones, with support requested from an Italian Air Force helicopter.
Antenna Sud described the requested air resource as an HH-139B helicopter equipped with infrared systems. The retrieved reports do not confirm the eventual outcome of the search.
Description
Available descriptions identify Del Sorbo as approximately 1.70 metres tall and slim, with short white hair. Rai's Chi l'ha visto? profile also records brown eyes, lists his height as 170 cm, and records the disappearance location as Coppa Croce, Vico del Gargano.
The clothing he was wearing when he disappeared had not been established in the available reports.
Family appeal: help find Gerardo
Family members appealed to anyone who may have seen an elderly man alone in the area to contact them or assist with information.
The primary local report gives his surname as Del Sorbo. Readers should note that one secondary report contains the conflicting spelling "Del Sordo."
