Body of missing quad biker Shane Robb found in Goomalling bush after two-day search

The two-day search for missing Wongan Hills man Shane Robb has come to a tragic end with specialist police trackers discovering the 37-year-old’s body this afternoon.

It had been more than four days since the last confirmed sighting of Mr Robb when officers found his body lying in a Goomalling creek bed – 120 km north-east of Perth – about 3.15pm today.

Police believe Mr Robb crashed his white Yamaha Banshee quad bike on Sunday afternoon, which was discovered 4km north of the Wheatbelt town yesterday morning following a public police appeal for information.

His body was recovered a kilometre south-west of the crash site according to Wheatbelt District Inspector Mark Twamley.

“Obviously it is upsetting for everyone involved when we resolve a matter in these circumstances,” he said.

“We’re thankful for everyone involved in the search including the volunteers, local residents and general members of the public who passed on information.”

A bus load of 31 recruits eight weeks into their training at the WA Police academy arrived in Goomalling at 1:30pm this afternoon to bolster search efforts.

They joined SES volunteers, officers from the WA Police mounted and canine sections, and Police Air Wing to look for Mr Robb across a 5sqkm search area comprising of scrubland and wheat farms.

Before news broke of Mr Robb’s death, Goomalling farmer Rex Rowles — whose property was inside the search area 4km north of the townsite — said the 37-year-old was working on a farm in Goomalling.

“He was commuting to Goomalling every day, he should have known the area really, where he is, which direction he was heading in,” Mr Rowles said.

“It says a lot about his mental capacity after the accident.”

Mr Rowles said the area where Mr Robb’s quad bike was found was popular among local riders.

Goomalling business-owner Clinton McIvor added Mr Robb had been seen riding “erratically” on the day he was last seen.

“He was only about 100m from the road (when he crashed), you know he would have seen cars driving past there at some point,” Mr McIvor said before Mr Robb’s body was found.

“He knows the area, so it’s pretty unusual.”

Another local described him as a “reserved fella”.

The matter will now be subject to a coroner’s inquest.

An extensive land and air search was launched by police after the seasonal farm-hand was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon.