Relief for friends, rescuers as missing hiker Hadi Nazari recovers after being found alive
In short:
Emergency workers and family friends of Hadi Nazari have shared their joy over him being found, with the 23-year-old currently recovering in Cooma hospital.
On Boxing Day, the university student went missing while hiking Kosciuszko National Park, with his disappearance kicking off an extensive search operation.
What's next?
Police hope to speak to Mr Nazari on Thursday to "debrief on his experience".
The discovery of hiker Hadi Nazari, who is currently in hospital after being missing for almost two weeks in dense bushland, has been described as a "miracle" by those closest to him.
On Wednesday afternoon at 3:15pm, the 23-year-old was discovered after disappearing during a bush hike in Kosciuszko National Park on Boxing Day.
Police said he survived off two muesli bars he found in a hut and creek water before being located 10 kilometres away from where he first went missing near Geehi.
Hadi Nazari was taken to Cooma Hospital on Wednesday night after spending nearly two weeks lost in Kosciuszko National Park. (ABC News)
He was taken to Cooma Hospital on Wednesday night but had no "obvious injuries" at the time of rescue, according to Superintendent Andrew Spliet, commander of the Riverina Police District.
Mr Nazari embraced his loved ones who cried in relief in an emotional reunion on Wednesday afternoon.
"I don't have any words to explain at the moment. It was just a moment of happiness," said Falaksher Ali, a family friend who had been driving between the national park and Melbourne for the last 13 days.
"He looks pretty healthy — a miracle, I would say. Twelve days without eating."
Hiker Hadi Nazari's discovery has been described as a "miracle" by a family friend. (ABC News)
Mr Ali said he did not believe initial reports that his friend had been found.
"I was unsure, I was kind of shocked, but I kept telling myself I hope this news is true," he said.
"It was the right news, we were very relieved."
He said Mr Nazari had left a video message on his camera, found by rescuers at a makeshift camp site on Sunday.
"A couple of days before when they found his camera he did record himself saying I've been lost here, I hope you guys find me,"Mr Ali said.
"We just have been grateful to God that we found him. He's very close to us," Hussein Ali, another family friend, said.
'We never gave up hope'
Speaking at a press conference, Riverina Police District Inspector Josh Broadfoot said that Mr Nazari was in good spirits with no apparent injuries.
"He's very, very thankful for all the search efforts, thankful that people didn't give up on him, and the searching efforts continued," he said.
Mr Broadfoot added that his team "never gave up hope of finding him".
"What a result. It's what everyone here has been working so hard for — what we're all also hopeful for."
Josh Broadfoot described the outcome as what everyone involved in the search had hoped for. (ABC South East NSW: Isla Evans)
Others involved in the search echoed similar sentiments about its process and end result.
"You have to be prepared for everything," NSW SES Chief Superintendent and Southern Zone Commander Ben Pickup said, adding that the personnel involved felt a mix of relief, elation and exhaustion.
"It's definitely a huge positive outcome for the family, and for the searchers who get passionately involved in finding and returning them to their loved ones."
Vital clues point to survival journey
Mr Nazari began what was intended to be a five-day hike with two others in the park in New South Wales's south-west, near the Victorian border, on December 22.
On the final day of the trip, he reportedly left his group to take photographs, but failed to arrive at the campground where the trio had planned to meet.
His friends said they last saw Mr Nazari about 2:30pm descending the Hannels Spur Trail at Geehi, between Khancoban and Thredbo before being reported missing that night.
Superintendent Spielt said on Wednesday there were more than 400 people involved in the search operation.
"And that's just the people on the ground. There's the support staff as well that are involved," he told reporters.
For 13 days, authorities attempted to locate Mr Nazari, finding hints that he was still alive. On December 31, search crews discovered rubbish and hiking poles near the Kosciuszko River, which became the main search area.
On January 5, key items of life, including a campfire and camera, were located near the Geehi River. (Supplied)
More than a week after Mr Nazari was reported missing, the site of a campfire, alongside a lighter, camera and camera bag, were located near the Geehi River.
"The further details about where he's been and how he looked after himself are still yet to be determined," Superintendent Spielt said on Wednesday.
"We'll have some police speak to him — hopefully tomorrow — and just debrief on his experience out there in the bush and actually what's happened."
'Obviously a very resilient person'
While Mr Nazari's survival was described as miraculous, others have said it's reflective of his mental and physical endurance.
According to Krystal Dacey, a geospatial scientist at Charles Sturt University, 75 per cent of missing hikers are found within a 5km radius of where they went missing.
"It goes to show this guy's determination to just keep pushing and keep going and get himself out of that situation,"Ms Dacey said.
Mr Hazari attempted what researchers call a "self-rescue", Ms Dacey said, where a hiker finds their way out of bushland rather than wait for rescuers to arrive.
The majority of those lost in bushland are found within 5km of where they went missing, Charles Sturt University's Krystal Dacey said. (Supplied)
"He clearly did a good job of it because he managed to do that, but it's not necessarily the best way," she added.
"Being disorientated, lack of food, fear, lack of water, pure exhaustion — those types of things are going to contribute to his decision making," she said.
Alone Australia participant, ecologist and hiker Kate Grarock noted the most challenging part of being lost was dealing with mental health.
"The upswell of panic that comes over you is debilitating,"she said.
Ms Grarock was one of 10 participants who were dropped into separate remote locations in the wilderness of Tasmania with basic survival items.
Maintaining your mental health is another factor to consider when attempting to survive the bush, Kate Grarock said. (Supplied: Kate Grarock)
"When you're in a survival situation, one or two silly decisions can start to escalate."
NSW Police said Mr Hazari had adequate camping equipment with him when he set off, including a tent, which may have been key to his survival along with a hut he took refuge in.
"If you don't have very basic shelter to keep the rain off, things can go really bad really quickly," Ms Grarock said.
"He's obviously a very resilient person."