The search for a man from Long Island has come to a close after he was found safe in the crowd at the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
The missing person, 55-year-old Giacomo “Jack” Campione of Elmont, Long Island, has severe intellectual disabilities and disappeared on Halloween when he left with his fellow group home residents on an outing in Queens. Campione had been separated from his group home’s bus exit near Flushing, Queens, and was last seen at a bus stop.
For two nights, Campione reportedly survived without proper food or his medication. He slept on the sidewalk and survived off of Halloween candy.
“How do you survive in New York City for two days with no food, no medication, nothing to drink?” said his sister Giselle Campione.
“We had a group of people out on the streets looking for him. We made flyers. If it wasn’t for the community, I don’t know if Jack would be here right now,” she continued.
He was found when a marathon watcher noticed him fall near Queens Plaza, helping officers identify him and bring him to a hospital. He was more than seven miles from his home when found.
His family says that the bystander’s decision to check on him made all the difference in the world.
“Whoever you are, thank you … You saved someone’s life, honestly,” Giselle said.
As Campione recovers in hospital care, questions remain about how he became separated. The family is seeking answers from his care provider and hoping to find that bystander that helped him to personally thank them. While the end of this case brings both his family and the community relief, it also shows the vulnerability of people with disabilities in large settings and the importance of community alertness.
