NEED TO KNOW
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Giacomo “Jack” Campione was last seen in the Queens neighborhood of Flushing after he got separated while out with his group home housemates on Friday, Oct. 31
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Days later, Campione was spotted by a bystander after he fell on the street during the New York City Marathon
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His family is looking for the good Samaritan to thank them
A 55-year-old man with cognitive disabilities from Long Island, N.Y., who went missing on Halloween was found alive and safe two days later — during the New York City Marathon.
Giacomo “Jack” Campione was last seen in the Queens neighborhood of Flushing on the morning of Friday, Oct. 31, according to a missing persons alert from the New York City Police Department.
Campione, of Elmont, was dressed in a costume at the time, local station WCBS reported. He was out with his group home housemates and an aide when he got swept up in a crowd after leaving a city bus.
“His cognitive ability is between a 4 and 6-year-old. So picture a child in the street,” Giselle Campione, his sister, told 1010 WINS.
Giselle also told WCBS that the community searched for her brother in the streets and made flyers.
“If it wasn’t for the community, I don’t know if Jack would be here right now,” she said.
During the two nights he was on his own, Jack survived on Halloween candy he obtained by saying “trick or treat” to people and he slept on the sidewalk, WCBS reported.
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On Sunday, Nov. 2, as New York City Marathon participants passed through Queens Plaza, someone saw Jack fall down then assisted him and called police, per WCBS.
In an email to PEOPLE on Wednesday, Nov. 5, police confirmed that the missing man was found safe.
Jack had, however, sustained an injury to his nose from the fall, 1010 WINS reported.
His sister told WCBS that she has no idea how her brother managed to travel over seven miles or how he was able to survive without his medication and reliable food or water.
Jack’s family told WCBS that they want to know from his group home how he got separated from his housemates when they were out on Friday.Â
His family also expressed gratitude to the good Samaritan who helped him and is hoping to find the person to thank them personally.
“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.”
PEOPLE contacted Giselle Campione on Wednesday, Nov. 5, for additional comment.
Read the original article on People
