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DARWIN - A second hitchhiker has gone missing in the NT outback in two months, with both men leaving behind abandoned cars.
Police have started searching for Queenslander Oswald Orman, last seen on Sunday night hitchhiking along the Barkly Highway near the Barkly Homestead, 210km from Tennant Creek.
Staff at the outback cattle station, in the territory's remote east, contacted police to report that Mr Orman had apparently abandoned his car, which contained clothing and other personal items.
He had arrived at the homestead last Tuesday, police said.
Mr Ordman went missing about 400km from the last known sighting of New Zealand tourist Jamie Herdman who went missing in late November.
Mr Herdman was last seen trying to catch a ride at Daly Waters, about 600km south of Darwin, on November 30.
His Kombi van -- containing his mobile phone, clothes, toothbrush, cards and some cash -- was found abandoned near a Stuart Highway roadhouse.
The vehicle, which was prone to overheating, was unlocked and the keys were not in the ignition.
The 26-year-old trained chef had spent the previous 18 months working for a furniture removal company in Broome in Western Australia when he decided to go on his road trip.
Despite an extensive air and ground search, police have found no trace of the missing traveller.
A spokeswoman for police media said the two incidents had not yet been directly linked.
Mr Orman is described as being Caucasian, about 172cm tall, with a very solid build. He has short grey hair and a moustache, brown eyes and very tanned skin.
Police say they are concerned for his welfare because he left behind his vehicle, a white Datsun utility with grey mudguards and Queensland registration plates 399 BWJ.
- AAP
