The group of hikers who discovered missing bushwalker Hadi Nazari have been described as “angels on Earth”.
Nearly two weeks after going missing in Kosciuszko National Park, the 23-year-old Melbourne student was found on Wednesday afternoon after surviving some of Australia’s toughest conditions for nearly two weeks.
Hadi Nazari appeared to be in good health and spirits after being found in the wilderness after being missing for nearly two weeks. Picture: NSW Police / AFP
He was discovered by a group of hikers, who were not part of the huge search efforts, after he called out for help from the bottom of a hill near Blue Lake, about 10km from where he was last seen.
Josh Dart was with a group of friends on an overnight hiking trip in the Kosciuszko National Park when a friend heard someone shouting for help.
Mr Dart told NewsWire of the moment his friends noticed a “speck” in the distance, soon realising it was the missing hiker.
As he got closer to the group, Mr Nazari begged them for help.
“Please don’t leave me,” he told the group.
“When we saw who it was, we couldn’t believe it,” Mr Dart said.
“He just collapsed into (my cousin’s) arms and we were all hugging each other.”
Upon his discovery, Mr Nazari immediately called his family to tell them he was safe.
It was then his sister Zahra told the group they were “angels on earth” for finding him.
New photos have captured the moment bushwalker Hadi Nazari was found by a group of hikers after being lost in Kosciuszko National Park for nearly two weeks Picture: Instagram/@joshua.dart
The group were described as ‘angels on Earth’. Picture: Instagram/@joshua.dart
The Melbourne’s student’s friend, Maisum Jafari, told the Today show he was relieved when he heard the news, as he had previously completed the hike himself and understood how “hard and treacherous” the terrain could be.
The hiker’s family shared their heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in finding the missing student.
“(Mr Nazari’s family are) absolutely thankful for all the different communities, from police to volunteers to the person that left the muesli bar, to the hikers, to their own community … staying hopeful during this tough time,” Mr Jafari said.
“It is so amazing to be able to share such a good news story.”
Mr Nazari is recovering in Cooma Hospital and expected to return to Melbourne in the coming days. Picture: NewsWire/Jenny Solomon
Mr Nazari was last seen at the Hannels Spur trail in Geehi on December 26 about 2.30pm after telling his friends he was going to take photographs.
A mammoth search was launched after he failed to arrive at the campground, with up to 300 people involved in the efforts to find the hiker.
Despite being missing for nearly two weeks, Mr Nazari was in good health when he was rescued.
Taken to Cooma Hospital with dehydration, Mr Nazari survived in the wilderness by eating two muesli bars, which he found in a hut, berries and creek water.
He is expected to be released from hospital in the next few days and will reunite with his family in Melbourne.
Following his rescue, Mr Nazari released a statement thanking everyone for their mammoth efforts.
“I would like to thank all of the emergency services personnel for their tireless work searching for 13 days in tough conditions to locate me,” he said.
“I would also like to thank members of the public, family and friends for their well wishes and prayers.
“As I continue to recover, I ask the media for privacy at this time.”