Mt Kosciuszko miracle: How a young hiker survived 13 days lost in the wilderness
A missing hiker who became lost in dense and remote bushland survived on two muesli bars, water and wild berries for almost two weeks before he was found.
Hadi Nazari, 23, lost his friends when he went taking photos along the Hannels Spur Trail between Khancoban and Thredbo in the NSW Snowy Mountains at around 2.30pm on December 26.
Mr Nazari spent 13 days in the rugged wilderness until he spotted a group of passing hikers near Blue Lake in Kosciuszko National Park around 3pm on Wednesday.
The Melbourne neurosurgeon student called out to the group and explained he was lost and thirsty before being pulled to safety and assessed by paramedics.
Police revealed incredible details about how he survived, claiming Nazari was in ‘good health’ and ‘very happy to be found and safe’.
Chief Inspector Andrew Spliet said Nazari took shelter in a hut and survived on water and just two granola bars.
“One of my police officers on the scene had spoken to him and he said he had found a hut up there in the mountains and there were two granola bars up there,” Chief Spliet said.
“That’s pretty much all he’s consumed in the last two weeks.
Hadi Nazari, 23, was found alive after being lost for 13 days in Kosciuszko National Park (pictured)
The Melbourne neurosurgeon student (pictured) was found in ‘good health’ and survived on some water, wild berries and two muesli bars
“Further details of where he has been and how he actually took care of himself are yet to be determined.
“Police will speak to him, hopefully tomorrow, to talk about his experiences in the bush and what happened.”
Mr. Nazari also foraged for berries and drank water where he could find it, police said.
How he managed to survive will have to wait until police can fully question him. The Melbourne student will be taken to hospital for assessment on Wednesday afternoon.
“He does not appear to have any significant injuries,” Chief Inspector Spliet said.
Chief Inspector Spliet said Mr Nazari had “covered a lot of ground” before he was found about 10km from the command post set up to look for him.
NSW survival expert and teacher Jake Cassar explained that water was crucial to Mr Nazari’s survival in the Kosciuszko Wilderness.
“They say about three days without water is possible, but it really depends on the conditions and how hot it is, how stressed the individual is,” Cassar told the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Nazari (pictured sitting with the hikers) was found after noticing a group of passing hikers and calling out to them, explaining that he was lost and thirsty
‘If he hadn’t had access to water and had been in the extreme heat, he wouldn’t have lasted long at all.
‘Anxiety can set in and dehydration can really set in after a few hours. So he must have held it together as best he could and got close to water.’
Mr Cassar, who runs courses at the Walkabout Park Wildlife Sanctuary, on the NSW central coast, said the young hiker was “really lucky” to survive.
He added that Australia is one of the driest inhabited continents in the world, meaning there were “many different ways to meet your demise” in the country’s unforgiving bush.
Mr Nazari was reported missing by two friends on Boxing Day after he failed to arrive at a campsite where they had agreed to meet.
The search for him involved hundreds of people who scoured the dense bushland for almost two weeks.
During the search, trash, walking sticks, a campfire, a lighter and a camera were found belonging to him.
Nazari’s friend Muhammad Iylas said he was in shock but full of joy to see him again.
More than 300 people from multiple agencies were involved in the 13-day search for Mr Nazari, including the SES (pictured)
“He’s a hero, like 14 days without food… he’s doing great,” Mr Iylas told ABC News.
NSW Police Inspector Josh Broadfoot said it was an “incredible outcome” to find Mr Nazari alive after almost two weeks.
“We have never given up hope of finding him and we are delighted that we can return him safely to his family,” said Inspector Broadfoot.
Inspector Broadfoot thanked partner agencies who, along with volunteers, assisted in the search.
SES deputy zone commander Matt Price said the volunteers were ecstatic after 13 days of tireless searching.
“The team endured the most difficult terrain and heatwave conditions, so when they finally heard that he had been located safe and sound, there was a tremendous sense of pride and joy at the outcome,” Mr Price said. Mr Nazari is overjoyed Sister Zahra has issued a statement on behalf of the family.
“We are so grateful that Hadi is safe and well,” it said. “We are grateful to everyone who helped us find my brother.”