As an urgent search continues for a missing bushwalker in the Kosciuszko National Park, experts have revealed the one reason they are still holding onto hope, some two weeks since the young man went missing.
Hadi Nazari, 23, was last seen by his friends about 2.30pm on December 26.
He had been hiking with his friends in the national park and had been descending the Hannels Spur trail between Khancoban and Thredbo.
Mr Nazari was expected to meet his friends at the Geehi campground but failed to arrive.
Up to 300 people have been involved in the search so far, with rubbish and hiking poles believed to belong to Mr Nazari found near the Kosciuszko River late on New Year’s Eve.
However, as the search continues, Superintendent Spliet said crews were “very hopeful” Mr Nazari was still alive.
Search crews remain hopeful Hadi Nazari is still alive. Picture: NSW Police
Up to 300 people have been involved in the search Picture: NSW Police
“If you have access to water, it is my understanding, given what we have been told by the experts who look after the survivability report for us, we are still hopeful,” he said.
“He has access to water, that is the reason why we are still out here and actively engaged.
“All of our partner agencies assisting us have people out there who are keen to get a resolution for the families.”
NSW SES South Eastern Zone deputy commander Superintendent Matt Price said crews were covering about 12km per day in the search area, which took in some of the steepest and thickest terrain NSW bushland had to offer.
“SES teams have been on both day and overnight deployments to cover the search areas that we are tasked to by NSW Police,” he said.
Mr Nazari went hiking with two friends on Sunday, December 22 in Kosciuszko National Park. Picture: Supplied
“The teams have been rising to the occasion and have been continuously working through tough conditions hoping to get a positive outcome for the family.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Riverina Police District commander Superintendent Andrew Spliet confirmed a campfire area and items belonging to Mr Nazari had been found on Sunday, with the area now a major focus for emergency services.
“We found a fire scene, a little campfire as well as a lighter and camera case and camera that belongs to Mr Nazari,” Superintendent Spliet said.
“We are making inquiries to try and determine how long ago that little campfire was lit and that will give us, if we can determine that, some type of timeline to when he was last in that specific area.”
Superintendent Spliet said the camera had images on it but wouldn’t elaborate out of respect for Mr Nazari’s family.
He said the campfire was located “some distance” over a mountain spur from where the rubbish and poles were previously found along Kosciuszko Creek.
“It is a fairly large area, so we are pretty confident he has covered a bit of ground,” Superintendent Spliet said.
“We are searching a lot of the waterways and so forth because it is very important if you are out in these conditions, in this area, that you have access to water.
“We are focusing on that as well as where the items have been located.
“We will continue with the search until we are content that we have covered every area that we possibly can.”
Mount Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest mountain and is surrounded by heavy vegetation, requiring specially trained VRA and SES volunteers and Australian Federal Police officers to be flown into the “rugged and remote” areas.