Costa cops hunt Alex; Riddle as Scot walks out hospital.

Byline: By JOHN McEACHRAN

A HUNT has been launched in Spain for a Scots pensioner who vanished from hospital on Christmas Day.

Alex Hutchison, 63, walked out of the clinic in Malaga without money or warm clothing at midnight on December 25.

His family have been unable to contact him.

His daughter Angelea said yesterday: "We are absolutely frantic. He is in desperate need of medical help. This is now a life or death situation."

Retired roofer Alex and his wife Wilma, 61, flew to Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol on December 19 from their home in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.

They have been going there regularly for more than 20 years.

But after the couple celebrated their arrival with a few drinks, Alex took ill. Angelea, 28, who lives in Newcastle, said: "My dad felt ill and stopped drinking. That resulted in him taking fits.

"He's had fits in the past and gets dementia.

"He trashed the flat and the police took him to the Malaga hospital. He seems to have got aggressive and on Tuesday walked out.

"His brother Tom has gone to help search for him.

"We just hope he is found before he comes to any harm."

CAPTION(S):

Missing: Alex has not contacted wife Wilma