Melbourne, Australia – A pedestrians survived on two muesli bars, sought after berries and creek water for two weeks while lost on a remote mountain range in Australia, police said Wednesday.
Hadi Nazari, a 23-year-old medical student from Melbourne, went missing on December 26 when he separated from two hiking companions to take pictures in Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales state.
He was rescued after he spoke to a group of hikers on Wednesday afternoon, telling them he was lost and thirsty, said Insp. Josh Broadfoot said. Nazari had traveled more than 6 miles over steep and heavily wooded terrain from where he was last seen.
Reuters/Australian Broadcasting Corporation
A massive land and air search was launched the day Nazari went missing. More than 300 researchers were involved.
He was back with his two hiking buddies on Wednesday before being flown to a hospital for medical evaluation, Broadfoot said.
Nazari said the police had been “walking from morning to night,” Broadfoot said.
“It looks great: amazing,” Broadfoot told reporters.
“This is the 14th day we've been looking for him. For him to come out and be in such a good mood and in such good condition, it's unbelievable,” he said.
“Fingers are up there and he said he's been looking for water where he can and looking for food where he can, in terms of berries. At one point, he said he found e two muesli bars in a hut, except that – 14 days and that's very little food,” said Broadfoot.
Reuters/Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Ambulance Insp. Adam Mower said Nazari only needed treatment for dehydration.
“He's in amazing shape for someone who's been missing for so long,” Mower said.
The national park surrounds Mount Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in Australia. But Australia is a relatively flat continent and the mountain is only 7,310 feet above sea level.
The current Southern Hemisphere has mild summer weather.
Investigators had hoped Nazari would be found alive. He was an experienced hiker with a tent. Investigators had found his campfire, camera and walking poles in recent days, suggesting he had continued to walk.
