Kye Martin went missing in WA’s unforgiving outback on Friday before he was spotted by a searching police chopper.
Kye Martin went missing in WA’s unforgiving outback on Friday before he was spotted by a searching police chopper.
By Hannah Murphy
August 6, 2025 — 4.33pm
A man who went missing while 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, north-west of Kalgoorlie, 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 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 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.
German backpacker Carolina Wilga recently spent almost two weeks in the West Australian outback after becoming lost while exploring the edge of the state’s Wheatbelt region.
More recently, Northern Territory man Gach Top was also found alive after a week missing in the central desert.
WA Police said Martin’s rescue was yet another timely reminder about keeping safe in the state’s bush.
“Police would like to take this opportunity to remind community members engaging in high-risk outdoor activities such as gold prospecting, four-wheel driving, mountain climbing and hiking, the importance of being well prepared for their journey,” a spokesperson said.
Police said in the event someone became lost, they should leave signs for air search crews, such as spelling a word on the ground, pile rocks and arrows made from sticks or drag a stick behind them, or try to attract attention by lighting a controlled fire.
If people became lost in a vehicle, they were urged to stay with it, or, if forced to leave, write a note explaining their intentions, including the direction they’re taking, what resources they have and the time and date they left.
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Hannah Murphy is a journalist with WAtoday.Connect via email.
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