Medical student Hadi Nazari, 23, was last seen about 2.30pm on Boxing Day after heading down the Hannels Spur Trail at Geehi, between Khancoban and Thredbo.
NSW Police Superintendent Andrew Spliet said Nazari shouted out to nearby hikers about 3.15pm today and told them who he was, triggering a call to the local authorities.
“There was a group of hikers in the area, he’s called out to them, disclosed who he was and that he had been lost in the bush… He announced to the hikers that he was very thirsty,” Spliet told media.
Spliet said the student had survived by finding a hut in the mountains and access to water.
“He found a hut up there, there were two muesli bars up there that he’s eaten … That’s pretty much all he’s eaten in the last two weeks.
“He’s covered a far bit of ground – 10km as the crow flies – that type of terrain with very heavy bushland… How he’s actually got there is something we’ll speak to him about.
“From all accounts, he’s in really good health which is good, we’re very happy that there’s been a successful result.”
Spliet said that while Nazari didn’t have any obvious injuries, he was taken to hospital for treatment.
Family speaking to 9News confirmed Nazari had called them to tell him he was alive and “OK”.
“We talked to him … He is OK … He is fine,” family told 9News.
“We are very happy … It is the happiest day of our lives.”
Nazari was found off the circuit walk near Blue Lake, around 10km away from the Geehi campground and command post.
He was winched by helicopter to the command post where he was treated by paramedics.
“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,” Riverina Police District Inspector Josh Broadfoot said.
“We never gave up hope of finding him, and we are elated we can return him safely to his family.”
Nazari had taken camping gear with him for a short camping stint before he was meant to meet his friends at the Geehi Campground, but he never showed up.
He had stopped on the trail to take photos and went missing in the remote national park shortly after.
A search party found a number of items belonging to Nazari on Sunday at a makeshift campsite, including a camera and lighter.
They had also found a hiker pole and rubbish in a separate area on December 31, which are also believed to belong to Nazari.
The search party expanded to involve several agencies including NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit and Riverina Police District officers, the SES, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Ambulance, RFS, VRA Rescue NSW, PolAir and Westpac Lifesaver.
His friends and loved ones were also involved in the search.
The search for Nazari, which involved more than 300 people, was about to enter its third week when he was found today.
Volunteers and searchers had remained hopeful they would find the missing man alive in the national park.