Joshua Dart and his hiking group experienced an unforgettable moment when they discovered missing bushwalker Hadi Nazari alive in Kosciuszko National Park. The group was on the first day of their hike, cherishing the stunning views, when they heard cries for help. Dart recalled, “When we realized it was him, I couldn’t believe it. We were just emotional, we were crying, and he was in tears.”
Nazari, aged 23 and from Melbourne, had been missing in the NSW Snowy Mountains since Boxing Day. The extensive two-week search for him concluded happily when the hikers stumbled upon him around 3:15 PM off the circuit walk near Blue Lake. Despite the difficult situation, Nazari managed to survive by foraging for berries, drinking creek water, and consuming two muesli bars he had found in a nearby hut.
“His spirits were high; he was saying, ‘praise God,’ despite being scratched and sunburnt,” Dart noted. Nazari explained to the group that he had lost track of time after unintentionally separating from his friends and initially estimated he had been missing for about seven days.
Upon being found, Nazari called his family using a phone provided by the hikers, and his friend Maisum Jafari expressed overwhelming happiness at the news, stating: “We are ecstatic, over the moon.” Shortly after, a helicopter was dispatched, and Nazari was winched to the search command post about 30 minutes later, 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 need for hope and positivity during such searches, assuring Nazari’s family that they could “rest easy now.” Dart reflected on the miraculous nature of their encounter, sharing: “I was up all night thinking about it. It’s just a miracle, and I’m so grateful for him to get out. He really kind of rescued himself; we just happened to be there at the right place.”
This heartwarming story not only highlights the resilience of the human spirit but also emphasizes the importance of community support and perseverance in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder that through determination and hope, positive outcomes are indeed achievable in challenging situations.
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