Ex-All Black who vanished from one of the world's busiest airports recovering with his family

Sean Lineen with dog Millie and his father, Terry, in an ambulance in Scotland. Photo / Facebook

An elderly ex-All Black who vanished from one of the world's busiest airports as he made his way to the Rugby World Cup is recovering with his family in Scotland.

Former midfielder Terry Lineen, 79, who wore the black jersey in the last 1950s, went missing at Heathrow Airport between his connecting flights from Auckland to Edinburgh late last Thursday night.

His son Sean Lineen, 53, is a former Scotland rugby star and now coaches Scotland's U20 side, his father was meant to join him for a seven week Rugby World Cup Holiday.

The Metropolitan Police issued a statement saying Mr Lineen, who suffers from blood cancer and is reliant on medication, was missing after wandering away from the departures gate and leaving the terminal.

Sean Lineen rushed to London to join the search for his dad, who was found 19 hours later lying injured on the side of a road in Twickenham by a passing cyclist.

Lynne Lineen has kept friends and family updated on her Facebook page.

She said her father-in-law was treated in hospital in London for a day, before being flown back to Edinburgh last weekend.

"We are so relieved to have Terry home with us in Edinburgh where we can look after him and get him back to his old self again," she said.

"We had a set-back [on Wednesday] and he had to be taken by ambulance to ERI. He is being well looked after and undergoing lots of tests. Hopefully he will be back home very soon."

She posted a photo showing her husband and Mr Lineen in an ambulance with their family dog.

"Our wee dog Millie thinks she Terry's nurse and has been following him everywhere and sitting with him. When he was taken into the ambulance she jumped in with him which made Terry laugh."