Hannels Spur – Climbing the Steep Western Face of Mt Kosciuszko, Richie Robinson, hannels spur, kosciuszko national park, nsw, great dividing range

 

After going missing in Kosciuszko National Park on December 26th, hiker Hadi Nazari was found alive at 3:15pm this afternoon.

 

The 23-year-old went missing around 2:30pm on Boxing Day along the Hannels Spur Trail between Khancoban and Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains. The man’s friends sounded the alert when Nazari failed to return to Geehi Campground after he’d left the group during the day to take photos on his own.

According to Nine News, Nazari called his family to tell them he was ‘ok’. Speaking to Nine News, Nazari’s family said, ‘We talked to him… He is OK… He is fine…We are very happy….It is the happiest day of our lives’.

ABC reporters on the scene of the rescue say that Nazari was hugged by his family, and then smiled briefly before entering a police command van. He’s been assessed by paramedics and is with family members including his father and brother.

‘This is an incredible outcome. After 13 long days, he has been located. We want to thank our emergency services partner agencies, volunteers, and members of the public for their assistance’, said Riverina Police District Inspector Josh Broadfoot. ‘We never gave up hope of finding him and we’re elated we can return him safely to his family.’

The University of Melbourne student was found off the circuit track near Blue Lake in Kosciuszko National Park, around 20km from the search command post, where he was winched to after being located.

Massive Rescue Effort

Over 300 people assisted in the search of Nazari, with more than 150 members of the NSW State Emergency Service deployed including the specialist NSW SES Bush Search and Rescue team who camped out overnight to increase time spent in the area. 

According to NSW SES South Eastern Zone Deputy Commander, Superintendent Matt Price, the SES teams were covering around 12km a day of some of NSW’s steepest terrain and thickest vegetation.

‘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. 

 

Feature photo by Richie Robinson

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