Drunken mishap sparks missing person's search

A man sleeping off a hangover in a Port Hedland hotel has inadvertently sparked a police missing person’s investigation.

South Hedland senior sergeant Dean Snashall said the 27-year-old from Brisbane was reported missing by his friend after he failed to show up for work on Sunday, didn’t answer his phone and was not in his hotel room.

“Late on Sunday police conducted a search of his hotel room,” he said.

“All his property including his wallet, clothes he was wearing from the night before and swipe card were there and there were no signs of a struggle.”

Police searched the hotel for the missing man and viewed CCTV footage which showed him heading back towards his room in the early hours of the morning.

It turned out the man had stumbled into the wrong hotel room at around midnight after enjoying a few too many drinks at the hotel’s bar on Saturday night.

The North West Telegraph understands the vacant room had been accidentally left unlocked by housekeeping.

The by-now refreshed punter eventually appeared out of the room after spending an entire day sleeping off what must have been one mighty hangover.

Unaware of the search that was underway for him, the red-faced guest told police he had no recollection of the night before.

Sen Sgt Snashall said the man’s friend had done the right thing to contact police.

“Clearly something didn’t look right,” he said.

“We encourage people to ring us when they think something’s wrong.

“It all worked out fine in the end obviously but this is what can happen when you don’t make contact with people or turn up to work.”