50 specialist rescuers deployed in search for missing hiker
Rescuers have been scouring some of the thickest, steepest bush in the country during the search for a hiker who has now been missing for more than a week.
A desperate search to locate a missing bushwalker in Kosciuszko National Park has entered its ninth day as 50 specialist search operators were deployed into rugged terrain to help find the man.
Hadi Nazari, 23, was last seen by his friends descending the Hannels Spur Trail in Geehi, between Khancoban and Thredbo, about 2.30pm on Boxing Day.
The student from Berwick in Melbourne’s southeast was expected to meet his friends, aged 23 and 24, at the Geehi campground but failed to arrive.
Mr Nazari’s friends began searching for him and notified authorities, who commenced patrols in the area.
According to his sister Zahra, Mr Nazari told his friend he was going to “stay back and take some photographs”, but he failed to return.
“We want more people to be there, it’s a very vast area, it’s a heavily dense area … more support from everywhere will accelerate the process,” she told 9News.
While Mr Nazari is an experienced hiker with previous experience overseas, this was the first time he had visited the national park.
His sister added her family fears Mr Nazari may have suffered a panic attack after getting lost and could face danger in the Australian wilderness.
“I just look at his pictures all the time and pray to God that he come back, he come back soon,” she said.
Goulburn Police Rescue, Riverina Police District officers, National Parks and Wildlife Service, State Emergency Services, NSW Ambulance, Volunteer Rescue Association and Polair established a command post on December 27.
Rubbish and hiking poles believed to belong to Mr Nazari were found near the Kosciuszko River on December 31.
More than 40 alpine search-and-rescue trained specialists, including SES and VRA members, were deployed to the operation on Saturday.
Six Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit specialist police officers were winched into the rugged terrain by aircraft.
NSW Rural Fire Service and Westpac Surf Life Saving helicopters and a National Parks and Wildlife Service aircraft have also been involved in the search.
Riverina Police District Acting Superintendent Jill Gibson said Saturday’s hot and humid conditions added to the degree of difficultly for searchers.
“Our searchers are well-resourced and are having their welfare taken care of during the operation,” she said.
“There have now been more than 300 people searching across the nine days, all highly-skilled and trained.
“Our focus and efforts continues to be finding Hadi and returning him to his family,” she said.
Mount Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest mountain and is surrounded by heavy vegetation, requiring specially trained VRA and SES volunteers and the Australian Federal Police officers to be flown into the “rugged and remote” areas.
“It’s not just like going in a walk up a hill,” a spokesman for NSW Police told reporters on Thursday.
“It is dense bushland with high altitude, and scaling it is very difficult.”
Officers from the rural crime investigators unit have also patrolled the area on horseback with local volunteers.
The spokesman said they were “hopeful” the specialist capabilities were able to locate the missing hiker.
“It’s very steep, it’s very vegetated, and it’s quite remote so we have set up increased communications to increase our capability there,” they said.
“We want more people to be there, it’s a very vast area, it’s a heavily dense area … more support from everywhere will accelerate the process,” she told 9News.
The search will continue on Sunday.
Originally published as 50 specialist rescuers deployed in search for missing hiker
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