Missing man Michael Gill found by WA Police after his abandoned car is located in bushland near Newman

Police used a drone to find a 70-year-old man who sparked a major search operation when his car was found abandoned in bushland near Newman earlier this week. Police had launched a massive search for Michael Gill who was travelling to Perth from South Hedland on Tuesday. He was found alive, but with hypothermia and sunburn, on Wednesday night. Police officers found him about 115km south of Newman, 1.5km away from his vehicle, after he got lost. The West Australian was told police used a drone, which is relatively new technology for the force, to track down Mr Gill, which “assisted very much”. Mr Gill was said to be driving a grey 2010 model Toyota Kluger, which was later located abandoned in bushland approximately 110 kilometres south of the Newman town site. Police had also said they believed Mr Gill may have been walking along the Great Northern Highway near the Kumarina Road house on Friday morning. On Tuesday a major search was launched for him near where his car was found. Police, SES and air assets including an AMSA jet were assisting with the search. But on Wednesday night police announced they had found the 70-year-old. “About 11.55pm last night, police officers located Mr Gill. He was provided first aid by locating officers before being conveyed to Newman Hospital for a medical check-up,” police said in a statement.