A medical student missing for almost two weeks in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia, has been found alive.
According to the BBC, Hadi Nazari, 23, survived by foraging for berries and consuming two muesli bars.
Nazari disappeared on Boxing Day while hiking in Kosciuszko National Park. He had walked away to take photographs but did not return to the camp where he was supposed to meet his friends. His disappearance sparked a large-scale search effort involving hundreds of volunteers, including his friends and family.
The hiker was discovered around 3:15 p.m. local time (04:15 GMT) on Wednesday near Blue Lake, about 10 kilometers from the camp. Superintendent Andrew Spliet told reporters that Nazari called other hikers and told them he was lost and thirsty.
Emergency services were contacted and Mr Nazari was airlifted to the search command post. Paramedics assessed him at the scene before he was taken to a hospital.
“He is in good health: he is alert, able to speak and has not suffered any major injuries,” Superintendent Splitet confirmed. The two muesli bars, found in a cabin, were “pretty much all he had to consume for the last two weeks,” Spliet said, adding that Nazari also relied on stream water and picked berries.
His family, who hugged him at the search base camp, told 9News: “It's the happiest day of our lives.”
Superintendent Splitet noted that Nazari had covered significant ground during the 13 days. Authorities plan to follow up with him once he is released from the hospital.
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