Missing hiker Hadi Nazari found alive after going missing on Boxing Day

The family of Berwick man Hadi Nazari is rejoicing after the 23-year-old was found alive and well after disappearing in Kosciuszko National Park almost two weeks ago.

It was a miracle that answered the prayers of Berwick man Hadi Nazari’s family — the 23-year-old finally stumbling across other hikers in the Kosciuszko National Park after being missing for almost two weeks.

“It is the happiest day of our lives,” the family said after the young man contacted them Wednesday to say he was alive and “okay”.

“We talked to him … He is okay … He is fine,” Mr Nazari’s family said, with his sister Zahra adding all her prayers had been answered.

“We are very happy … It is the happiest day of our lives.”

The 23-year-old was hiking with friends in the Kosciuszko National Park before he disappeared. Picture: supplied

Hadi Nazari has been found alive after disappearing in dense NSW bushland almost two weeks ago. Picture: supplied

Mr Nazari split from his friends about 2.30pm on Boxing Day on the Hannels Spur Trail in Geehi — between Khancoban and Thredbo — to “stay back and take some photographs”, Zahra said.

The Berwick student was expected to meet up with them at the Geehi campground later that night but never arrived.

Hadi Nazari in an embrace with friends after he was found alive. Picture: ABC

His friends, aged 23 and 24, began what would become a 400-plus person search, alerting authorities and calling out for the experienced hiker in an extremely dense and remote patch of bush just an hour from the closest Victorian town of Corryong.

Despite hiking overseas previously, it was the first time he had visited the Kosciuszko National Park.

Missing hiker Hadi Nazari (seated) surrounded by hikers who located him off the circuit walk near Blue Lake Picture: 9News

On day six of the search — New Year’s Eve — hope was renewed as rubbish and hiking poles believed to belong to Mr Nazari were found near Kosciuszko Creek.

And as the days stretched on, more searchers were brought in, including 44 alpine search and rescue specialists who were deployed on the ninth day of the operation.

Six police officers, specialising in rescues north of the border, were also winched directly into the bush on Saturday for faster entry and several helicopters from various agencies were assisting from the air.

Hot and humid conditions added a degree of difficulty for searchers, and several were injured during their efforts in the rough terrain, but they were spurred on when, just three days ago, they discovered a his camera and camera bag next to a campfire on a remote hiking track.

The experience hiker disappeared after separating from friends. Picture: NSW Police.

More than 300 people were involved in the mammoth land and air search. Picture: NSW Police

On it, the 23-year-old — who celebrated his birthday while alone in the dense bush — had recorded a message telling rescuers he was drinking water.

The desperate message, recorded in another language believed to be Indonesian, explained how he had gotten lost and apologised for going missing.

When rescuers found it on January 5, survival experts were buoyed by the fact he had been drinking water and encouraged police to ramp up their search.

“That’s why you saw a massive push in these last few days,” one source said.

“The survival experts said because he had been drinking water and staying hydrated his chances of survival were still strong, but this is the best possible outcome.”

NSW police scour dense bushland for any signs of Mr Nazari. Picture: NSW Police

Riverina Police District Commander Superintendent Andrew Spliet said Mr Nazari had called out to hikers for help from dense bushland about 10km from the search effort command post near Blue Lake on Wednesday afternoon, bringing the mammoth hunt to a dramatic end.

He’d eaten just two muesli bars in a remote hut in the 13 days since he farewelled his friends.

“My understanding is there was a group of hikers in the area, he’s called out to them, disclosed who he was and that he had been lost in the bush,” Supt Spliet said.

“Police at the scene spoke to him, he’s relayed he found a hut up there in the mountains, there were two muesli bars there he’s eaten and that’s pretty much all he’s had to consume over the past two weeks.”

Embraced by his family, Supt Spliet said Mr Nazari was in good spirits, “alert and able to speak” but “very thirsty”.

“Further details on where he’s been, how he’s actually looked after himself … police will speak to him hopefully (on Thursday) about his time out there in the bush and actually what’s happened,” he said.

“He’s obviously very happy to be rescued and safe, back and reunited with his family. From all accounts, he’s in really good health.”

Berwick man Hadi Nazari has been found alive and well after disappearing in the Kosciuszko National Park on Boxing Day. Picture: supplied

Rescue crews were covering about 12km per day in the search area. Picture: NSW Police

Supt Spliet said Mr Nazari had “covered a fair bit of ground” since he went missing on December 26, and had done “really well” to survive solo in the wilderness.

“That type of terrain is very, very steep, thick bushland,” he said. “Obviously he’s a very fit individual, and he did have equipment to survive in the wilderness, which would have assisted him.

“There’s a number of creeks and rivers that run around that area — it’s very important he had access to water.

He added: “We’ll find out more of those details when we speak to him, but our primary concern is making sure he is physically healthy.”

The 23-year-old was in hospital on Wednesday night.

NSW Premier Chris Minns welcomed the news Mr Nazari had been found safe.

“This is amazing news and testament to our emergency services workers who never gave up,” Mr Minns said. “What a relief for the young man and his family.”

It was “great news”, Snowy Monaro mayor Chris Hanna said.

“It’s fantastic that our locals, police and SES crews have worked together to find this missing person, it shows what can happen when we all work together,” Mr Hanna said. “I’m glad he’s been found safe and well.”

Mr Hanna said the incident was a timely reminder of the dangers of hiking in the region.

“It would’ve been a big challenge for the gentleman who was lost, and scary for him, but it’s a reminder for everyone travelling in that area to keep post of where you are at all times, to keep safe and stay on the tracks,” he said.

Mr Nazari’s hiking group, Hazara Hikers in Australia, celebrated the news with a post on social media: “Congratulations everyone,” the post read.

“Hadi Nazari’s has been found by the rescue team after 13 days.”

Mount Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest mountain and is surrounded by heavy vegetation.

Originally published as Missing hiker Hadi Nazari found alive after going missing on Boxing Day