There have been celebrations after a hiker who spent 13 days missing in NSW’s Kosciuszko National Park was found yesterday afternoon.
The 23-year-old uni student from Melbourne had been missing since Boxing Day. Police said he survived on creek water, berries and muesli bars.
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Police Superintendent Andrew Spliet said, “He found a hut up there in the mountains and there were two muesli bars up there that he’s eaten and that’s pretty much all he’s had to consume over the last two weeks.”
Hadi Nazari was first reported missing by two friends in the snowy mountains after he had gone off track to take photos and failed to rejoin the group at a campsite.
It sparked a desperate search, with more than 350 people, including NSW police and Ambulance, SES personnel, National Park rangers and volunteers.
Nazari was found by accident yesterday afternoon when a group of hikers stumbled across him, just 10 kilometres from where rescuers had set up a search command post.
He told them he was lost, and that he was very thirsty.
Nazari was embraced by his family and friends after being airlifted to safety. His sister released a statement thanking everyone involved in the rescue.
He was treated for dehydration on site and was taken to Cooma Hospital last night in good health and with no obvious injuries.
Rescuers say his fitness level, bushwalking experience and access to fresh drinking water played a big role.
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