A hiker who went missing in NSW Kosciuszko National Park for nearly two weeks managed to survive after discovering a hut in the mountains containing two muesli bars.
Medical student Hadi Nazari, 23, was last seen around 2:30 PM on Boxing Day while descending the Hannels Spur Trail at Geehi, situated between Khancoban and Thredbo.
NSW Police Superintendent Andrew Spliet reported that Nazari shouted to nearby hikers around 3:15 PM today, identifying himself and prompting a call to local authorities.
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“There was a group of hikers in the area; he called out to them, disclosed who he was, and that he had been lost in the bush… He mentioned to the hikers that he was very thirsty,” Spliet told the media.
Spliet noted that the student had survived by locating a hut in the mountains.
“He found a hut up there, where there were two muesli bars that he ate… That’s pretty much all he’s consumed in the last two weeks,” he added.
“From all accounts, he’s in really good health, which is fantastic; we’re very happy that there’s been a successful outcome.”
He has been taken to the hospital for further treatment.
Family members confirmed to 9News that Nazari had called them to inform them he was alive and ‘okay’.
“We talked to him… He is okay… He is fine,” the family told 9News.
“We are very happy… It is the happiest day of our lives.”
Nazari was located off the circuit walk near Blue Lake, approximately 10 km from the Geehi campground and command post.
He was winched by helicopter to the command post, where he received treatment from paramedics.
“This is an incredible outcome; after 13 long days, he has been found. We want to thank our emergency service partner agencies, volunteers, and members of the public for their assistance,” Riverina Police District Inspector Josh Broadfoot stated.
“We never gave up hope of finding him, and we are elated we can return him safely to his family.”
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Nazari had taken camping gear for a brief camping trip before he was scheduled to meet friends at the Geehi Campground, but he never arrived.
He had paused on the trail to capture photos and subsequently went missing in the remote national park.
A search party discovered various items belonging to Nazari at a makeshift campsite on Sunday, including a camera and lighter.
They also found a hiking pole and rubbish in a separate area on December 31, which are also believed to belong to Nazari.
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The search party expanded to include multiple agencies, such as the NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, Riverina Police District officers, the SES, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Ambulance, RFS, VRA Rescue NSW, PolAir, and Westpac Lifesaver.
The search for Nazari, involving over 300 individuals, was about to enter its third week when he was located today.
Volunteers and searchers remained optimistic about finding the missing man alive in the national park.
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