A 55-year-old Long Island man with cognitive disabilities who went missing on Halloween was found alive and safe two days later — right in the midst of the New York City Marathon.
Giacomo “Jack” Campione was last seen on the morning of Friday, Oct. 31, in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, according to a missing persons alert from the New York City Police Department.
At the time, Campione — who lives in Elmont — was wearing a costume, local station WCBS reported. He had been out with his group home housemates and an aide when he became separated after getting caught up in a crowd leaving a city bus.
“His cognitive ability is between that of a 4- and 6-year-old. So picture a child in the street,” his sister, Giselle Campione, told 1010 WINS.
She also told WCBS that members of the community helped search the streets and distribute flyers to find her brother.
“If it wasn’t for the community, I don’t know if Jack would be here right now,” she said.
During the two nights Jack was missing, he survived on Halloween candy he received by saying “trick or treat” to strangers and slept on the sidewalk, according to WCBS.
On Sunday, Nov. 2, as runners passed through Queens Plaza during the New York City Marathon, a bystander saw Jack fall and quickly came to his aid before calling police, WCBS reported.
Police later confirmed via email that Jack had been found safe on Wednesday, Nov. 5. He had sustained a minor nose injury from the fall, 1010 WINS reported.
Giselle told WCBS she doesn’t know how her brother managed to travel more than seven miles or survive without his medication, food, or water.
Jack’s family now wants to understand how he became separated from his group home companions that Friday. They are also hoping to identify and personally thank the good Samaritan who helped him.
“It’s New York. We see a lot of stuff in New York,” Giselle said, per WCBS. “Thank you, New York, for helping my brother.”
