By Dunja Karagic,Ruby Littler

Copyright abc

Police have located a vehicle in the search for a 62-year-old man who has been missing for a week in Western Australia’s far north.

Mark Sear was last seen leaving Moola Bulla Station, 80 kilometres north of Halls Creek in the Kimberley, in a white 2012 Hino tray-top truck on the evening of September 19.

Police found his vehicle at Sandy Creek on Thursday, 75km away from where he was last seen.

Mr Sear is described as being 175 centimetres tall with a slim build, tanned skin, short brown hair and an ashy beard.

Police said “significant air and land resources” had been deployed in an effort to find him.

Temperatures in the area reached 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

‘Out of character’

Sonia Cooper, who has known Mr Sear for 20 years, described him as a “kind and friendly” person who would talk to anybody.

“He’s a bushie, so he can look after himself — he’ll find water, he’ll be able to survive,” she said.

“But I am worried because it’s been a few days.”

Ms Cooper said Mr Sear disappeared for a similar amount of time 10 years ago and was found by her husband.

“Last time it happened was ages ago, so it is out of character,” she said.

“He goes to stations and he goes out bush and he just does his work.

She said Mr Sear works as a dozer driver in the Kimberley.

‘Not a place to be alone’

WA Police Minister Reece Whitby said people should always remain with their vehicle if they get lost in the bush.

“When a vehicle breaks down in the outback, stay with your vehicle,” he said.

“We’ve found the vehicle unfortunately, we haven’t found Mr Sear yet.

“If you don’t have water, if you don’t have food, if you have medical issues, it’s not a place to be alone.

Mr Whitby said it did not matter how long a person may have have lived in the Kimberley or Pilbara.

“Locals that think ‘they’ve lived here, all their life, they know the environment’ (but) this is an unforgiving environment for everyone.”