Urgent warning as man who 'could be contagious' vanishes from Preston hospital

Urgent warning as man who 'could be contagious' vanishes from Preston hospital Dean Hesketh has not been seen since leaving the Royal Preston Hospital and there is increasing concern for him with people told not to approach. Police have launched an urgent appeal to help find a missing man who may have a "contagious health condition". Dean Hesketh is understood to have not been seen since leaving the Royal Preston Hospital at around 11.15am on Tuesday and police say there is increasing concern for him. The 51-year old also uses the names Tim, Dean or Anthony Gledhill and anyone who sees him is urged to get in touch with police to "make sure he is safe". Blackpool Police says that he has links to Preston, Penwortham and Blackpool but it adds for people not to approach him due to the possibility of him having a "contagious" condition. Mr Hesketh is described as being 5ft 4in with black hair and blue eyes and is of a slim build. In the last sighting of him, which can be seen in the image released by police, he was wearing a khaki green and black jacket, black trainers and a Lyle and Scott jumper. He was also wearing a blue surgical face mask. The appeal from Blackpool Police on Facebook read: "We’re asking for your help to find Dean Hesketh, who is missing. Dean, 51, also uses the names Tim, Dean or Anthony Gledhill. He was last seen leaving Royal Preston Hospital at 11:16am on 28th July. Enquiries to locate Dean are ongoing, and we are growing increasingly concerned for him. "Dean is 5ft 4in with black hair and blue eyes and is of a slim build. He was last seen wearing the clothing you can see him in in this footage – a khaki green and black jacket, black trainers and a Lyle and Scott jumper. He was also wearing a blue surgical face mask. Dean has links to Preston, Penwortham and Blackpool. "We ask that if you see Dean you don’t approach him, as he may have a contagious health condition. If you do see Dean it’s really important that you get in touch with us on 999 as soon as you can, so that we can make sure he is safe. If you have information or footage that could help us find him please call 101 quoting log 1051 of 28th July."