Desert claims man after breakdown
A 60-year-old man who died after walking nearly 50km in 40C-plus heat through the remote northern Goldfields came agonisingly short of help.
Police are investigating the Leonora man's death after his body was found on Wednesday just minutes from Windidda Station, 200km east of Wiluna.
The man, who is not named for cultural reasons, decided to walk after his car broke down on the Gunbarrel Highway, about 48km from the cattle station, on Sunday.
He set off at 5am on Monday with a small container of water while his partner stayed with the vehicle for another night before she also left to find help.
The woman camped out on Tuesday night and was found by pastoralists from Wongawol Station the next day.
The group took her to Windidda where a search party was sent to find her husband.
His body was found on the roadside, about 1.7km west of the station.
Police said yesterday there were no suspicious circumstances and a report would be prepared for the Coroner.
One of the woman's three dogs and her cat also died in the heat.
Station owners in the area said weather conditions had been treacherous since Sunday.
Wonganoo Station's Kathy Boladeros said temperatures had hovered around 45C in recent days.
She said there was little infrastructure along the road that would offer relief for those stranded.
"If they're from the area, they'd know where the windmills are," Ms Boladeros said.
"But there's nothing much along the roadside."
Police urged those travelling by car in remote WA to stay with their vehicle if they became lost or stranded.
"It is much easier for searchers to spot a vehicle from the air than it is a person," a WA Police spokesman said.
Travellers are reminded to carry enough water to last them for at least three days and sufficient food.
A vehicle needs to have at least two spare tyres and drivers should invest in an EPIRB or personal locator beacon.
