A missing hiker who was 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 to take 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 along until he spotted a group of passing hikers near Blue Lake in Kosciuszko National Park on Wednesday at about 3pm.
The Melbourne neurosurgeon student called out to the group and explained he was lost and thirsty before he was winched to safety and assessed by paramedics.
Police revealed incredible details on how he survived, claiming Mr Nazari was in ‘good health’ and ‘very happy to be found and safe’.
Superintendent Andrew Spliet said Mr Nazari sought shelter in a hut and survived on water and just two muesli bars.
‘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 Spliet said.
‘That’s pretty much all that he’s had to consume over the last two weeks.
Hadi Nazari, 23, was found alive after spending 13 days lost in the Kosciuszko National Park (pictured)
The Melbourne neurosurgeon student (pictured) was found in ‘good health’ and had survived on some water, wild berries and two muesli bars
‘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.’
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 debrief him, with the Melbourne student taken to hospital for assessment on Wednesday afternoon.
‘He doesn’t appear to have any significant injuries,’ Superintendent Spliet said.
Superintendent 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 water was crucial for Mr Nazari’s survival in the Kosciuszko wilderness.
‘They say about three days without water (is possible), but it really depends on the circumstances and how hot it is, how stressed the individual is,’ Mr Cassar told the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Nazari (pictured sitting with the hikers) was found after he spotted a group of passing hikers and called out to them explaining he was lost and thirsty
‘If he didn’t have access to water and was in the extreme heat then he wouldn’t have lasted very long at all.
‘Anxiety can kick in and dehydration can really start to kick in after a matter of hours. So he must have kept it together as best as he could, and got close to water.’
Mr Cassar, who runs courses at the Walkabout Park Wildlife Sanctuary, on NSW’s central coast, said the young hiker was ‘really fortunate’ to have survived.
He added Australia is one of the driest inhabited continents on the planet, which means there were ‘many different ways to meet your demise’ in the country’s unforgiving bush.
Mr Nazari was reported missing on Boxing Day by two friends after he failed to arrive at a campground where they had arranged to meet.
The search for him involved hundreds of people who scoured the thick bushland for almost two weeks.
Rubbish, hiking poles, a campfire, lighter and camera belonging to him were found during the search.
Mr Nazari’s friend Muhammad Iylas said he was in shock but full of happiness to see him again.
More than 300 people across 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 like perfectly well,’ 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 never gave up hope of finding him and we are elated we can return him safely to his family,’ Inspector Broadfoot said.
Inspector Broadfoot thanked partner agencies who assisted in the search along with volunteers.
SES deputy zone commander Matt Price said volunteers were ecstatic after searching tirelessly for 13 days.
‘The team have worked through some of the most difficult terrain and heatwave conditions, so when they finally heard he had been located safe and well, there was an amazing sense of pride and joy at the outcome,’ Mr Price said.Mr Nazari’s overjoyed sister Zahra released a statement on behalf of the family.
‘We are so grateful Hadi is safe and sound,’ it said. ‘We are grateful for everyone involved in helping us find my brother’.
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