Hadi Nazari, a hiker who went missing for nearly two weeks, was rescued on January 8 in Kosciuszko National Park, located south of Sydney, New South Wales. He was last seen by friends on December 26 while descending a trail to take photographs. His family expressed overwhelming relief, calling the day of his rescue the "happiest day of our lives."
Nazari's disappearance prompted an extensive search operation that involved over 300 people, utilizing both aerial and ground resources. Despite the challenging conditions, searchers remained hopeful due to the presence of water in the area where he vanished. Unfortunately, it was not the search teams that found him, but a group of hikers who stumbled upon him about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the search command post.
The hikers discovered Nazari at approximately 3:15 p.m. He was in good health, having survived solely on two granola bars sourced from an abandoned hut during his ordeal. These bars had initially been found by a 23-year-old hiker who was also lost in the wilderness.
“That's pretty much all that he’s had to consume over the last two weeks,” said Riverina Police District Commander Superintendent Andrew Spliet. He noted that Nazari was able to call out to the hikers and identify himself after they found him.
Search efforts had included finding signs of Nazari's presence, such as garbage and his hiking poles, which provided leads for searchers. Additionally, a campfire, lighter, and camera believed to belong to him were discovered on Sunday, fueling hopes that he might be nearby.
“This is an incredible outcome – after 13 long days he has been located. We want to thank our emergency services partner agencies, volunteers and members of the public for their assistance,” stated NSW Riverina Police District Inspector Josh Broadfoot.
The emotional impact of the rescue was profound for Nazari's family and friends. They had reported him missing on the same day he disappeared and had anxiously awaited news throughout the search effort.
