A man who went missing prospecting for gold in Western Australia’s desert has been found alive after carving his name into a clearing in the hope someone would see it.
Kye Martin, 40, was on a gold prospecting trip near Ora Banda on Friday when he became separated from his friends.
Ora Banda is north-west of Kalgoorlie, and is a historic gold mining town where prospectors usually camp while searching the outback.
Martin sent a text to his family warning them he had become lost about 1pm, just before his phone dropped out of reception.
Family reported him missing to local police, who began an extensive land search for the prospector.
Kalgoorlie Police led the search along with WA Police’s emergency operations unit, and the police helicopter.
A crew on board the chopper said they spotted Martin on Saturday afternoon after finding his makeshift shelter, where he had marked out his name on the ground in a clearing to attract attention.
Footage of the rescue released by local police shows the makeshift shelter of leaves and broken branches, and an officer approaching Martin before asking: “Hey mate, did you order a pizza?”
Martin was flown to Kalgoorlie Airport, where he was assessed by ambulance crews, and was later reunited with friends and family.
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