In brief
After a strenuous search involving around 400 personnel, Hadi Nazari, lost in Kosciuszko National Park for nearly two weeks, is safely rescued.
Hadi Nazari, a 23-year-old hiker, has been successfully rescued after being lost for almost two weeks in the treacherous terrain of Kosciuszko National Park in Australia. The young man went missing on December 26, also known as Boxing Day in Australia, after setting out on a solo hike. Reports indicated he survived during this period on only limited food supplies—a mere two granola bars—and water sourced from nearby rivers and streams.Nazari's hiking buddies alerted authorities at approximately 8:45 p.m. on the day he went missing, worried when he did not reach their planned camping spot. They last saw him some six hours prior as he embarked alone on the Hannels Spur trail. Over the ensuing days, a search operation involving around 400 volunteers and police was launched, with both aerial and ground searches conducted to locate him.Authorities expressed optimism throughout the search due to Nazari’s experience as a hiker and the camping gear he was equipped with at the time of his disappearance. New Year's Eve brought the discovery of several of Nazari's items, including hiking poles and trash, near the Kosciuszko River, along with remnants of a campfire found near the Geehi River.Conditions within the national park proved to be a significant challenge for searchers, as acting Superintendent Jill Gibson described the area as possessing “incredibly dense bushland” where visibility was drastically limited in many sections. However, hope persisted among search teams and Nazari's friends.The moment of rescue came on the afternoon of January 8, when a group of other hikers passing near Blue Lake, situated about six miles from the campground, heard him calling for help. Upon confirming that he was lost and in need of assistance, they alerted emergency services, which led to him being airlifted for medical evaluation. His successful finding underlines the perseverance of search teams and the resilience of those navigating the wild.
