WA prospector found safe and well

A 73-year-old prospector, who failed to return to his campsite in Western Australia's Goldfields-Esperance region, has been found safe and well.

A land and air search was launched for Reginald Wells on Sunday, but police said later in the day that a helicopter pilot had spotted him at a well.

Mr Wells had been prospecting with a friend for the past two days, about 16km south of Murrin Murrin minesite and 70km east of Leonora.

Police said the friend went prospecting at 1pm on Saturday while Mr Wells had a nap.

But when the friend returned at 4.30pm, Mr Wells and his prospecting equipment were gone.

The alarm was raised when he did not return that night, and there were concerns about his welfare because he had a medical condition.