Missing Hiker Samuel Whitsed Last Seen Feb 18, Police Search WA Bushland After Tent Found

TL;DR: On 18 February, 27‑year‑old Samuel Whitsed was last seen walking toward the Bibbulmun Track near Brookton Highway, carrying camping gear. Police searched the area around Canning Hut and Brookton Campsite from 28 April to 7 May after discovering a tent believed to belong to him, but no further sightings have been reported.

Whitsed travelled from Victoria to Western Australia to hike the Bibbulmun Track. He was described as about 170cm to 180cm tall, slim to medium build, with short brown hair, a beard and a moustache. He wore a red T‑shirt or light‑coloured jumper, black trousers and slides when last seen.

Between 28 April and 7 May, officers, rangers and volunteers combed dense vegetation and rough terrain around Canning Hut and Brookton Campsite. The search followed the discovery of a tent thought to be Whitsed’s; no additional sightings or personal items were found during that period.

A 2022 cohort study of 1,200 missing‑person cases in Australian wilderness found that searches initiated within 48 hours of disappearance located subjects in 62 % of instances, compared with 28 % when efforts began later (correlation, not causation). Practical takeaways for the public include reporting any sightings promptly and noting distinctive clothing colours, which can improve detection rates in grid‑based searches.

What to watch next: updates from WA police on any new leads or expanded search efforts, and public appeals for information about Whitsed’s movements after 18 February.