According to authorities, a 23-year-old hiker got lost in the Australian bush while hiking. He was discovered alive by other hikers on Wednesday, having survived for almost two weeks on two granola bars and water from rivers and creeks.
The man, Hadi Nazari, became lost on December 26, Australia’s Boxing Day, while trekking in Kosciuszko National Park, some 240 miles south of Sydney, according to a news release from the New South Wales police.
When Mr. Nazari did not show up at the campground where they had planned to meet him on December 26, two of his friends called the police at approximately 8:45 p.m. His last sighting was around six hours prior, when he ventured out on his own onto the Hannels Spur trail.
According to the authorities, over the period of 13 days, almost 400 individuals conducted air and ground searches for Mr. Nazari. Authorities were optimistic that Mr Nazari was still alive during the search because he is a skilled hiker and had camping gear in the backpack he was carrying when he vanished. “Rubby and hiking poles” that were purportedly Mr. Nazari’s were discovered close to the Kosciuszko River on New Year’s Eve.
The location has “incredibly dense bushland and challenging conditions on the ground,” acting Superintendent Jill Gibson of the Riverina Police District said in a statement last week, adding that in some parts of the wilderness being searched, rescuers “can’t see their feet” because of the dense vegetation.
About 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, a group of hikers near Blue Lake, which is about six miles from the campground, found Mr. Nazari, Commander Superintendent Andrew Spliet of Riverina Police District said at a news conference. Mr. Nazari called out to the group as they passed by and told them he was lost and thirsty. The hikers called the emergency services, and Mr. Nazari was then airlifted to a command post to be evaluated by paramedics.
The police reported that Mr. Nazari was in good health and had no serious injuries. After that, a hospital was called to further evaluate him and rehydrate him. Inspector Josh Broadfoot of the Riverina Police District stated in a statement on Wednesday, “We never gave up hope of finding him.” “We are so happy that we can safely send him back to his family.”
Mr. Nazari, according to Superintendent Spliet, discovered two granola bars in a cabin while gone but ate nothing else. The police believe the creeks and rivers were his only source of water while he was missing, but Superintendent Spliet said they will conduct a thorough interview with Mr. Nazari to discover more about how he lived. Following his rescue, friends visited with Mr. Nazari. One of them, Muhammad Iylas, told an Australian Broadcasting Corporation station that he appeared “perfectly fine” despite not having eaten anything in two weeks. “I’m kind of shocked and full of joy,” Mr. Iylas stated. “It’s amazing.”
