Police surprised by 'excellent condition' of hiker found after 2 weeks lost in mountains

Melbourne, Australia — A the tourist survived on two muesli bars, picked berries and water from a stream for two weeks while lost in a remote Australian mountain range, police said Wednesday.

Hadi Nazari, a 23-year-old medical student from Melbourne, went missing on December 26 when he became separated from two companions to take pictures in Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales.

He was rescued after he approached a group of hikers on Wednesday afternoon, telling them he was lost and thirsty, police said. Josh Broadfoot said. Nazari walked more than 6 miles through steep and heavily wooded terrain from where he was last seen.

A massive ground and air search was launched the day Nazari went missing. More than 300 searchers were involved.

He was reunited with his two fellow hikers on Wednesday before being taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation, Broadfoot said.

Nazari told police he had been “walking from morning to night,” Broadfoot said.

“He looks good: amazing,” Broadfoot told reporters.

“This is the 14th day we have been looking for him. For him to come out and be in such a good mood and in such great condition, it's unbelievable,” he added.

“There's a few streams and he said he looked for water where he could and looked for food where he could in terms of berries. He once said he found a couple of muesli bars in the hut but other than that it's 14 days and it's very not much food,” Broadfoot said.

Ambulance Inspector Adam Mauer said Nazari only needed treatment for dehydration.

“He's in great shape for someone who's been missing for so long,” Mauer said.

The national park surrounds Mount Kosciuszko, which is Australia's highest peak. But Australia is a relatively flat continent, and the mountain is only 7,310 feet above sea level.

Weather conditions are mild in the Southern Hemisphere this summer.

Searchers were optimistic that Nazari would be found alive. It was an experienced hiker equipped with a tent. In recent days, searchers have found his campfire, camera and hiking poles, believing he continued to walk.