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Zac Chapman: Missing charity walker found by police on the Gibb River Road

Sarah Crawford and Phil HickeyThe West Australian
Zac Chapman is walking from Darwin to Perth in an effort to raise money for the Black Dog Institute.
Camera IconZac Chapman is walking from Darwin to Perth in an effort to raise money for the Black Dog Institute. Credit: wa police

Police have found a charity walker who abandoned his trolley and water on a remote section of the Gibb River Road in the East Kimberley.

A land and air search begun after police found Zac Chapman’s trolley and water near the Durack River crossing, 200km south east of Wyndham, around midday on Tuesday.

However it was called off just before 1pm after the 29 year-old was found.

Kununurra Inspector Neil Vanderplank said he was located by police.

“Being conveyed back to Kununurra. He is ok,” he said.

Police feared Mr Chapman, who was walking from Darwin to Perth for charity, may have suffered from heat stroke when he abandoned his trolley and water and wandered off in searing heat.

Inspector Neil Vanderplank said police were notified by a member of the public early on Tuesday that Mr Chapman may be in trouble after he contacted them using his GPS device and also set off an emergency beacon.

Zac Chapman is walking from Darwin to Perth in an effort to raise money for the Black Dog Institute.
Camera IconZac Chapman is walking from Darwin to Perth in an effort to raise money for the Black Dog Institute. Credit: wa police

“In the early hours he contacted the person to say he was struggling and he was going to be turning back,“ Inspector Vanderplank said.

“We believe he has suffered a bit of heat stroke and become disorientated.”

Just before midday officers located his abandoned trolley near the Durack River crossing, it was about 40 degrees and humid.

He was found by the officers some time before 12.55pm.

Inspector Vanderplank said people may be able to survive for a day or two without water in the Kimberley at this time of year.

Mr Chapman is walking from Darwin to Perth in an effort to raise money for the Black Dog Institute.

Inspector Vanderplank said people bushwalking in the Kimberley should take plenty of water, have a personal locator beacon and make sure they have informed other people of their plans.

“If you do become injured and set the beacon off stay where you are. If you stay in the same position we can get to you,” he said.

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