UPDATE: A tourist feared missing in 40C heat in WA’s Goldfields region has been found safe at a Norseman BP trying to hitchhike back to Victoria.

Adam Galvin had been prospecting with a friend near Carosure Dam in Mulgabbie, about 150 kilometres north east of Kalgoorlie.

The friend said he last saw Mr Galvin around 10am on Christmas Day and alerted authorities.

A massive air and land search got under way on Monday and Tuesday before police confirmed the 45-year-old had been located safe and well.

“It appears that a motorist, unaware that Mr Galvin was being searched for, picked him up and dropped him off in Norseman,” a police spokesperson said.

“He was attempting to hitchhike back to Victoria.”

It remains unclear why Mr Galvin did not alert anyone to his plans to return home.