Joshua Dart and his hiking group will forever treasure the moment they discovered Hadi Nazari, a missing bushwalker, alive in Kosciuszko National Park. On their first day of hiking, while soaking in the stunning scenery, they heard calls for help. Dart recalls, “When we realized it was him, I couldn’t believe it. We were emotional, crying, and he was in tears.”

Nazari, who is 23 years old and from Melbourne, had been missing in the NSW Snowy Mountains since Boxing Day. After extensive search efforts spanning two weeks, the hikers stumbled upon him around 3:15 PM off the circuit walk near Blue Lake. Remarkably, Nazari had survived by foraging for berries, drinking creek water, and consuming two muesli bars he found in a nearby hut.

Despite being scratched and sunburnt, Nazari remained in good spirits, expressing his gratitude by saying, “praise God.” He shared with the group that he had accidentally lost track of time and separated from his friends on Boxing Day, initially thinking he had only been lost for seven days.

Having made contact with the hikers, Nazari borrowed a phone to call his mother, resulting in a wave of relief and happiness among his friends and family. His friend, Maisum Jafari, expressed overwhelming joy, stating, “We are ecstatic, over the moon.” Shortly after being found, a helicopter was dispatched to winch Nazari safely back to the search command post, where he was reunited with his family and assessed by paramedics. He is currently in good health at Cooma Hospital.

NSW Police Superintendent Andrew Spliet emphasized the importance of hope during search operations, assuring Nazari’s family that they could finally rest easy. Dart reflected on the miracle of their encounter, stating, “It’s just a miracle, and I’m so grateful for him and his family. He really kind of rescued himself; we just happened to be at the right place.”

This inspiring story not only highlights the resilience of the human spirit but also underscores the importance of community support and hope in adversity. It serves as a powerful reminder that with perseverance and a little bit of luck, positive outcomes are achievable, even in the toughest of situations.