The search for an 83-year-old prospector missing without food or water in Western Australia’s Mid West region has been called off.

Trevor McDonald hasn’t been seen since Saturday afternoon after going prospecting in an area about 50km south of Meekatharra.

He and his wife had been intending to meet back at their caravan after heading off in separate directions near the Bluebird mine.

But Mr McDonald did not return, prompting police to mount an aerial and land search with support from State Emergency Service officers.

“A decision has been made to suspend the search for missing man Trevor McDonald pending further information being received,” WA Police said on Friday.

“Police would like to thanks all the volunteers who assisted with the search efforts over several days over challenging terrain.”

Police earlier this week said Mr McDonald was physically fit but had a heart condition and wasn’t carrying a mobile phone.

“He had a plan with his wife that he was going to walk out about a kilometre with his metal detector and then return … but he did not come back,” Inspector Dave Hooper told ABC radio on Monday.

“Unfortunately because he was going on a short walk, which he apparently does quite often, he didn’t have water or food with him or any form of communication.”