ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – A Hellshire Beach family is struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of their father and grandfather.

Nehemiah Thompson, a 71-year-old shop operator of Hellshire Beach, went to Hellshire Heights early Friday morning to collect firewood but has not been seen or heard from since.

“It’s very unusual, he’s not senile, he wouldn’t wander off,” his daughter, Natasha Thompson, told OBSERVER ONLINE.

“It’s very, very hard,” the distraught daughter said.

The elderly man was last seen wearing a blue shirt, a blue jeans pants, red and white shoes, and a black felt hat.

The matter has been reported to the Hellshire Park Police Station.

Family members joined with friends and residents over the weekend in a search to locate Thompson but came up empty-handed after hours of combing through thick bushes.

Natasha Thompson said family members are still holding on to hope that her father will be found, and thanked everybody who have assisted in the search efforts or have offered emotional support during this difficult time.

Anyone who has seen Nehemiah Thompson or can provide information about his whereabouts is being asked to contact the family at 876-399-0410 or 876-883-3911, or the nearest police station.