Search for missing hiker Samuel Whitsed on WA Bibbulmun Track

Published: 09 May 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

A major search operation is continuing in Western Australia after a 27-year-old man disappeared while hiking on one of the country’s most popular long-distance walking routes, raising growing concerns about his welfare.

The missing man, identified as Samuel Whitsed, is believed to have travelled from Victoria to undertake a hike along the renowned Bibbulmun Track, which stretches through remote bushland on the outskirts of Perth and toward the south coast of the state.

Whitsed was last seen on 18 February near Brookton Highway, close to Albany Highway, carrying camping equipment as he made his way towards the trail. Since then, there has been no confirmed contact or sighting, prompting an extensive search effort involving police, rangers, and volunteers.

Authorities have now escalated concerns after three months without any sign of the missing hiker. The operation has focused heavily on remote and densely vegetated areas, where visibility and access are significantly limited, making search conditions particularly challenging.

Recent coordinated search efforts between 28 April and 7 May concentrated around Canning Hut and Brookton Campsite, both known stops along the Bibbulmun Track. During this phase of the search, authorities discovered a tent believed to have belonged to Whitsed, but no additional evidence or trace of the hiker was found.

Footage released by Western Australia Police shows search teams systematically combing through thick bushland, rugged terrain, and isolated walking paths. The operation includes police officers, park rangers, and trained volunteers working together in difficult environmental conditions.

Despite the scale of the search, officials say no confirmed leads have emerged since the discovery of the tent. The lack of new information has deepened concerns about the man’s safety, particularly given the remote nature of the area and the harsh environmental conditions that can be present along the trail.

Whitsed is described as being between 170cm and 180cm tall, with a slim to medium build, short brown hair, and facial hair including a beard and moustache. At the time he was last seen, he was reportedly wearing a red T-shirt or light-coloured jumper, black trousers, and sandals.

Police have urged anyone who may have seen Whitsed or has information about his movements to come forward immediately. Authorities believe that even small or seemingly insignificant sightings could help narrow the search area.

The Bibbulmun Track, one of Australia’s longest hiking routes, is known for its remote wilderness sections, stretching through forests, national parks, and isolated landscapes. While it is popular among experienced hikers, parts of the trail can be difficult to navigate, particularly for individuals travelling alone or without regular communication.

Search and rescue experts note that the combination of dense vegetation, unpredictable weather conditions, and limited mobile coverage can significantly reduce the chances of early detection in missing person cases along remote trails such as this.

The disappearance has prompted renewed attention on hiking safety protocols in Western Australia, particularly for long-distance trekkers. Authorities often advise hikers to carry GPS devices, emergency communication tools, and sufficient supplies when undertaking extended journeys in remote areas.

Despite these warnings, incidents involving missing hikers occasionally occur, especially in vast wilderness regions where environmental conditions can change rapidly and navigation errors can have serious consequences.

In this case, investigators are working to determine Whitsed’s planned route and whether he may have deviated from the main trail. Officials are also reviewing any available digital data, including possible phone signals or transaction records, in an effort to reconstruct his movements before he went missing.

Local volunteers who have joined the search describe the terrain as extremely challenging, with thick undergrowth and limited visibility in many sections. Some areas require slow, methodical searching due to the difficulty of movement through dense bushland.

Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities at this stage, including accidental injury or getting lost in remote terrain. However, they emphasize that there is currently no evidence pointing to any specific scenario.

Family members have been kept informed of developments and continue to appeal for public assistance as the search continues. Police have reiterated that the operation will remain active until all reasonable areas have been thoroughly examined.

As the search enters a critical phase, conditions on the ground are expected to play a significant role in determining how long operations can continue without interruption. Weather and terrain challenges may further complicate efforts in the coming days.

For now, the disappearance of Samuel Whitsed remains unresolved, with authorities maintaining a full-scale search across the rugged landscape of Western Australia in the hope of finding answers in one of the region’s most difficult search environments.