Mystery surrounds seafarer missing in WA's far north

Concerns for Myanmar seafarer missing for four days in WA's KimberleyPosted Mon 7 Sep 2026 at 4:21pmMon 7 Sep 2026 at 4:21pmWai Phyo Aung has not been seen since leaving Kununurra Hospital on September 3. (Supplied: Facebook)In short:Authorities are searching for a Myanmar national who left a remote West Australian hospital last week.Wai Phyo Aung was a seafarer aboard the HG Ravenna and was taken to Kununurra Hospital before going missing on September 3.What's next?WA Police and Australian Border Force have been contacted for comment.Concerns are growing for the safety of a Myanmar seafarer who disappeared from a remote hospital in Western Australia's far north.The ABC understand Wai Phyo Aung was taken to Wyndham Hospital, about 3,000 kilometres north of Perth, on September 2 after complaining of chest pains.He had been working as a seafarer on Liberian-flagged cargo ship the HG Ravenna.Marine traffic data shows the bulk carrier anchored at Wyndham Port last Wednesday after leaving Lumut Port in Malaysia last month.WA Country Health Service said the man was later admitted to Kununurra Hospital on the same day and seen by staff.A spokesperson said he was medically cleared for discharge the next day.The ABC understands he has not been seen since. The seafarer was taken to Kununurra Hospital and was last seen on September 3. (ABC News: Ted O'Connor)Temperatures in Kununurra peaked at 38.5C on Saturday.The alarm was raised on a social media community noticeboard on Friday.The post read it was believed he had "no Australian cash with him".The Australian Border Force has been contacted for comment, which referred the ABC to the Department of Home Affairs.Wyndham is WA's northernmost export port. (Supplied: Cambridge Gulf Limited)'Concerning' disappearanceSpeaking broadly about the missing man and previous instances of missing seafarers, Air Mission to Sea Farers director Sue Dight said the disappearance was "concerning"."If he has tried to make it on his own, he may well be struggling significantly because it is a remote part of the country," she said."Getting out of Kununurra is not as easy as just stepping onto a plane, stepping onto a bus."Ms Dight said there were several reasons why the man would leave hospital by himself."When you think of Myanmar, we're thinking of a country in huge conflict," she said.A WA Police spokesperson referred questions to Border Force.