Extensive search efforts are underway for an elderly man with dementia, who was reported missing after driving away from his home in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains.
John Locker, 77, was last seen in Cooma on Monday afternoon, before he loaded his border collie, Sophie, into a Toyota Hilux ute and left home.
His daughter Sharon Locker-Lloyd said this was an unusual behaviour for her father.
"He feels like he doesn't have control of his life anymore and isn't sure of whether things are real or not," she said.
"He would be lost and confused and really scared and upset."
Ms Locker-Lloyd said her father — who also goes by Tony — only packed a few winter jackets, two tins of fruit, some cash and his landline phone when he left home on Monday.
"He hasn't taken any food for the dog. He hasn't taken any water, he wouldn't be having any of his medication," she said.
There were reports Mr Locker's car was seen being driven on Maffra Road, over 30 kilometres south of Cooma, on Tuesday morning.
However, his family — alongside emergency services — have spent the week searching for Mr Locker with no success.
"We've been living on a couple of hours' sleep," Ms Locker-Lloyd said.
Search efforts 'saturate' Snowy Mountains
A team of police officers from the Monaro Police District and the ACT have been joined by volunteers from the State Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service, Marine Rescue and the Westpac helicopter during their search efforts this week.
Inspector Brad Hughes said Mr Locker could have travelled out of the area.
"[The search has] certainly saturated the area and obviously explored a number of areas he is linked to," Inspector Hughes said.
"That [search] goes from the border with Victoria, all the way up to the Australian Capital Territory and over to the south coast [of NSW].
"It's a large area that we are trying to find him [in]," he said.
Inspector Hughes urged landowners in southern New South Wales to check their backyards, paddocks and sheds for any signs of Mr Locker or his vehicle.
Ms Locker-Lloyd said she was concerned the main search would be stopping into the weekend.
"We are all just running on adrenaline, knowing that we are running out of time," she said.
"I just want him to come home."
Anyone with information about Mr Locker's whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.