Mysterious disappearance of man on popular WA hiking track sparks police search

Three months after a hiker was last seen at a popular walking track, police have become increasingly concerned for the missing man’s welfare.

Police have scoured dense bushland for a Victorian man after he disappeared from a popular hiking trail on the other side of the country.

Samuel Whitsed, 27, is believed to have travelled from Victoria to Western Australia to hike along the Bibbulmun Track near the outskirts of Perth. He was last seen on 18 February, carrying camping items and making his way towards the track on Brookton Highway, near Albany Highway.

Police have become increasingly concerned about Whitsed’s welfare in the three months since and have asked the public for help.

Footage released on Saturday showed officers, rangers and volunteers trekking through dense vegetation and rough terrain in the hopes of finding the missing man.

Between 28 April and 7 May, they sifted through the area surrounding Canning Hut and Brookton Campsite after the discovery of a tent believed to have belonged to Whitsed, but no further sightings have been made.

Anyone who has seen Whitsed or has information on his whereabouts has been urged to contact WA police.

He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt or light-coloured jumper, black trousers and slides.

Whitsed is described as about 170cm to 180cm tall, of slim to medium build with short brown hair, a beard and a moustache.