Meat and camping gear had been left at a Seal Creek campsite, prompting a search that wasted thousands of dollars and 190 man hours as emergency services crews searched for a man who was safe at his home in Perth.

Police Sergeant Ray Wharton said police were notified at 3.25pm on Saturday, and began a search shortly after.

“We had no way to identify where the owner was or what had happened,” he said.

“I thought he might have gone for a drive and gotten stuck.

“A helicopter searched the immediate area, as far as Sandy Bite and Cape Pasley, but nothing was sighted.

“First thing on Sunday, the helicopter resumed its search, along with SES volunteers.”

It was then that the police alerted the local media, broadcasting information about the abandoned campsite on the local radio in the hope of learning more about it.

“At about 2.30pm someone came into the police station and explained the situation,” Sgt Wharton said.

Apparently the missing man had returned to Esperance with car problems, before flying back to Perth and organising with his uncle to retrieve the camping equipment.

“The man had been camping at Seal Creek and planned to do some salmon fishing.

“He was driving to Thomas River to pick up a fishing rod when he began having car troubles, and decided to try and make it back to town.”

The man’s uncle had organised to travel out to Cape Arid to retrieve the camping gear, but had not gotten around to it before the search began.

“It was a positive outcome that the man was safe and well, but also negative that it was a huge waste of resources,” Sgt Wharton said.

“If he had notified the ranger this could have been avoided.”

SES captain Russel Palmer said 12 SES volunteers took part in the search, along with a helicopter and a light aircraft.

“We spent about 160 man hours on the search,” he said.

“It was more of a careless act than a malicious act. People need to realise that actions have results, and that the general public do notice things and try to help.

“If a note was left or the ranger was identified it could have saved a lot of time and expense.”