Bernard Jordan, a World War II veteran who gained fame by escaping from a nursing home to honor his fallen friends during the 70th anniversary of D-Day, has passed away at the age of 90. His death was peaceful, the BBC reported.
Bernard Jordan, who became known as the Great Escaper after his escapade last June, died peacefully at The Pines, a care home in Hove, East Sussex, the hospital said in a statement.
His secret departure from the home to take a cross-Channel ferry to France, wearing his war medals under a gray raincoat, prompted a police search when the staff at the home reported him missing.
Mr. Jordan, who served in the Royal Navy, made his own way to Normandy, and his whereabouts was discovered only when a younger veteran telephoned during the night of June 5 to say that he had met Mr. Jordan, who was safe and would return when he was good and ready.
Mr. Jordan later said that he had gone to Normandy because "my thoughts were with my mates who had been killed. I was going to pay my respects. I was a bit off course, but I got there."
Jordan didn't shun the fame he garnered for his cross-Channel adventure and instead focused the attention on those he fought and died beside in Normandy.
Mr. Jordan, upon his return from his adventure, said: "There were a lot of other people on the beaches of Normandy that day. This lovely attention is for them, really, not me."