A hiker who spent almost a fortnight lost in Kosciuszko National Park recorded a video apologising to searchers while surviving on just water and two muesli bars.
Melbourne student Hadi Nazari, 23, lost his friends when he went to take photos along the Hannels Spur Trail between Khancoban and Thredbo in the NSW Snowy Mountains on Boxing Day.
He spent 13 days in the bush until he spotted a group of passing hikers on Wednesday afternoon and called out to them, explaining that he was lost and thirsty.
As Mr Nazari was winched to safety and assessed by paramedics, authorities revealed incredible details of his survival.
‘One of my police at the scene had spoken to him and he.. relayed that he found a hut up there in the mountains and there were two muesli bars up there,’ Superintendent Andrew Spliet said.
‘That’s pretty much all that he’s had to consume over the last two weeks.
‘Further details about where he’s been and how he’s actually looked after himself are still yet to be determined.
‘Police will speak with him, hopefully tomorrow, just to debrief on his experience in the bush and what happened.’
Young hiker Hadi Nazari, 23, has been found alive and well 13 days after he disappeared in NSW ‘s Kosciuszko National Park on Boxing Day
Mr Nazari (pictured as he reunited with family) survived on just two muesli bars for 13 days
Mr Nazari was found by hikers, who were not part of the search party (pictured, the hikers sitting Mr Nazari while waiting to be winched out)
Supt Spliet said it was ‘fantastic news’ for all agencies involved in the search given the amount of time and resources spent looking for Mr Nazari.
‘So, to hear that come over the radio that he’s been located is just fantastic news.’
Supt Spliet added Mr Nazari’s previous hiking experience and overall ‘fit’ health likely helped him survive the ordeal.
‘We really just want to find out what he’s actually done,’ he said.
‘Has he rested in the shade during the day, has he found walking tracks that he’s been able to get on? He’s done really well.’
Mr Nazari, a Melbourne neurosurgeon student, was found by hikers, who were not part of the search party, at 3:15pm around 20km from the main police command post in Geehi.
The 23-year-old identified himself as a missing hiker and told the group he was ‘thirsty’, prompting the hikers to call emergency services.
Mr Nazari identified himself as a missing hiker and told the group he was ‘thirsty’, prompting the hikers to call emergency services
Mr Nazari left a camera with a message recorded in Indonesian for searchers to find
‘He was called out to some hikers who were in the area, he told them that he’d been lost in the bush and was thirsty. Those people then contacted emergency services,’ Supt Spliet said.
‘…He’ll be conveyed to a hospital in the area to be checked out and make sure that he is fit and in good health.
‘I can advise he’s been reunited with his family, who are very happy to have him back and very happy with the efforts from police and the other organisations who assisted in this operation.’
After reuniting with his dad and brother, Mr Nazari was taken to Cooma Hospital for further examination.
Superintendent Spliet added the student had ‘no obvious injuries’ and was in good spirits.
‘He was fine, alert, able to speak,’ he said.
‘But obviously he’s getting checked out by the medical professionals and we’ll see what comes of that.’
More than 300 people across multiple agencies were involved in the 13-day search for Mr Nazari
Mr Nazari’s sister Zahra Nazari said in a statement that her family was ‘grateful that Hadi is safe and sound’.
‘The police, SES, anyone who went to search for Hadi and those who helped advocate for him,’ she said.
Police believed Mr Hazari was still alive after finding his camera, camera case and lighter, plus the remnants of a small campfire, on Sunday.
On Wednesday evening it was revealed Nazari had recorded a message for emergency services and his loved ones on the camera.
In Indonesian, Mr Nazari said he had been drinking water and apologised for going missing.
Riverina Police District Inspector Josh Broadfoot thanked the more than 300 people who joined the search for the hiker over the past fortnight.
Mr Nazari was winched to safety by a helicopter and flown to police’s main command post on Wednesday
‘This is an incredible outcome, after 13 long days he has been located,’ he said.
‘We want to thank our emergency services partner agencies, volunteers and members of the public for their assistance.
‘We never gave up hope of finding him, and we are elated we can return him safely to his family.’
NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit and Riverina Police District officers, the SES, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Ambulance, RFS, VRA Rescue NSW, PolAir and Westpac Lifesaver all assisted in the search.
