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Hiker Survives Two Weeks Alone in Australian Mountains
Melbourne, Australia — A medical student from Melbourne, Hadi Nazari, made headlines after surviving an incredible ordeal in the remote Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, where he was lost for two weeks. Authorities reported that Nazari managed to sustain himself during this difficult period by consuming two muesli bars, foraged berries, and creek water.
Nazari, 23, disappeared on December 26 while hiking in the Kosciuszko National Park. He had separated from his two hiking companions to take photographs, prompting a significant search operation after his absence was noted. This major initiative began the same day he went missing, involving over 300 searchers dedicated to locating him.
On Wednesday afternoon, Nazari encountered a group of hikers, who he informed that he was lost and in need of water. According to Police Inspector Josh Broadfoot, he had trekked more than six miles through steep, wooded terrain since his last known location.
The hiker was quickly reunited with his companions on the day of his rescue before being airlifted to a hospital for medical assessment. Broadfoot mentioned that Nazari had been “walking from morning until night” throughout his time in the wilderness.
“He seems well: Amazing,” Broadfoot remarked to the media. “This is the 14th day we’ve been looking for him. For him to come out and be in such good spirits and in such great condition, it’s incredible,” he added.
Nazari described his survival strategy during the ordeal. He took advantage of the natural resources available to him, finding water in creeks and gathering berries for nourishment. He also stumbled upon a couple of muesli bars in a hut, which provided a small boost to his diet. “14 days and that’s very little food,” Broadfoot noted regarding Nazari’s minimal sustenance.
Ambulance Inspector Adam Mower confirmed that Nazari’s health concerns were limited to dehydration, emphasizing the remarkable state of his overall condition after such an extended period lost in the wilderness. “He’s in remarkable condition for a person who’s been missing for so long,” Mower stated.
Located in the national park surrounding Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak at 7,310 feet above sea level, the area poses both challenges and advantages to hikers, particularly during the warm summer months of the Southern Hemisphere. Search teams had remained hopeful for Nazari’s survival, given his experience as a hiker and the discovery of his campfire, camera, and hiking poles in the days leading up to his rescue, which indicated he was still actively navigating the terrain.
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