Missing hiker Hadi Nazari has been found alive in Kosciuszko National Park after going missing on Boxing Day afternoon.
Nazari, 23, had not been seen since he began descending the challenging Hannels Spur track in Kosciuszko National Park at about 2.30pm on 26 December. He set out with a small water bottle, tent, sleeping bag and his camera but failed to meet up with friends at Geehi campgrounds.
A multi-agency rescue effort was launched to find Nazari, including searchers crawling through dense bushland and multiple helicopter patrols flying above the challenging terrain.
The 23-year-old was found by hikers about 3pm on Wednesday near Blue Lake in Kosciuszko National Park, NSW Police said. Source: Supplied / ABC News
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Riverina Police District commander superintendent Andrew Spliet said Nazari was relatively physically healthy and "obviously very happy to be rescued and safe and to be reunited with his family."
Hadi Nazari went missing on the afternoon of Boxing Day, when he failed to meet up with friends at a campsite. Source: AAP / NSW Police
Spliet said the search team was "very, very happy" when the news Nazari had been found came in over the radio.
The superintendent said he hoped Hadi knew people were searching for him and heard the helicopters flying overhead while he was lost.
NSW Police thanked emergency services for their contributions to the search.
Riverina Police District inspector Josh Broadfoot said it was an "incredible outcome".
"We never gave up hope of finding him, and we are elated we can return him safely to his family," Broadfoot said.
The multi-agency search for Hadi Nazari involved hundreds of people, including volunteers and some of the missing hiker's friends and family. Credit: NSW State Emergency Service
Nazari had also discarded rubbish and hiking poles, which were found on New Year's Eve.
On Tuesday, Spliet said police were "very hopeful" Nazari was still alive and that they would "continue the search until we're very comfortable that we've done everything that we possibly can".
Spliet said Nazari's continued access to water and his history of hiking in the area gave rescuers hope to press on.
More than 300 people were involved in the search, including friends, family, volunteers and members of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
—With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
