Key Points
- Missing hiker Hadi Nazari was found by a group of hikers on Wednesday afternoon and is recovering in hospital.
- His cousin Hussain Ali said the 23-year-old has already said he wants to hike again.
- Search and rescue specialists advise anyone heading into a remote area to carry a personal locator beacon.
After 13 days of being lost in the bush, Hadi Nazari will soon return to his Melbourne home but the 23-year-old has already indicated he’s keen to hike again.
His cousin Hussain Ali told reporters outside Cooma Hospital, where Nazari is recovering that he had tried to talk him out of another trek.
“When we found him … he was keen to go for another hike,” he said.
“I was like, ‘no more hiking for you, that was it’.”
Hadi Nazari was reunited with his cousin Hussain Ali, 13 days after he went missing in Kosciuszko National Park. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Ali said the hiker’s parents in Melbourne were “very happy, they were thankful to God”, but not once had the family lost hope.
“I was the first person he saw and he just came out of the van and ran towards me and hugged me,” he said.
“We were all surprised and shocked at how fit and healthy he was after 13 days.”
An incredible outcome
Search and rescue specialist Paul Luckin said he was glad his earlier doubts about the prospect of Nazari being found alive had not borne out.
“I love being wrong when I’m being pessimistic,” he said.
“I’m always delighted when we have a survivor … and it was always a possibility.”
Nazari was found by a group of hikers on Wednesday afternoon, near Blue Lake in the Kosciuszko National Park, after he was last seen by friends descending the Hannels Spur trail on Boxing Day.
In a statement on Thursday, Nazari praised the tireless work of emergency services personnel who spent 13 days searching for him amid tough conditions.
“I would also like to thank members of the public, family and friends for their well wishes and prayers,” Nazari said.
Jessica Dart, one of the hikers, said the group could not believe they had found Nazari.
“I started crying, he started crying … hugging each other,” she told reporters outside the hospital.
“I was like, oh my god, I can’t believe you’re safe and sound. And he’s like, saying, ‘thank you god’.
“You guys are angels.”
How did Hadi Nazari survive?
NSW Police superintendent Andrew Spliet said Nazari was found about 10km from the Geehi campground near where he was last seen.
Nazari told police he had barely eaten anything apart from two muesli bars and some berries he had foraged.
He drank fresh water from creeks and had been walking “from morning to night”, police said.
In a statement on behalf of the family, Nazari’s sister Zahra Nazari said the family was relieved he was safe and sound.
“We are grateful for everyone involved in helping us find my brother,” she said.
The multi-agency search involved hundreds of people, including volunteers and some of Hadi Nazari’s friends and family. Credit: NSW State Emergency Service
While a lot of credit was due to the hundreds of rescuers and volunteers who dedicated almost two weeks to finding Nazari, there was an element of luck involved in him coming across a group of other hikers, Luckin said.
But the gruelling experience and its incredible, positive outcome provided some lessons.
“In most cases, the best advice is as soon as you realise you’re lost, stop — because you are then closest to the last known point,” Luckin said.
“You stand a much better chance of being found and a much better chance of being found early.”
Those setting off to a remote area should also familiarise themselves with the terrain, and bring maps and personal locator beacons.
As for Nazari’s next hike, his cousin maintains he wants him to wait.
“Surviving on that mountain is not easy for 13 days and nights,” Ali said.
“When he’s completely fit and fine, then we’ll see how he goes.”
