How Hadi Nazari who went missing for two weeks has vanished AGAIN – as he targets $100,000 payday for the story of his Mount Kosciuszko miracle

EXCLUSIVE

The hiker who was lost for 13 days in the NSW Snowy Mountains has gone to ground and requested privacy as he targets a $100,000 media deal to tell his amazing survivor story.

Medical student Hadi Nazari, 23, was plucked to safety from a picturesque mountaintop in the Kosciuszko National Park on Wednesday.

He was found by fellow hikers after an intense 13 day taxpayer-funded manhunt involving a search party of more than 400 people, including police, helicopters and SES volunteers.

A huge media presence was camped outside Cooma Hospital hoping to speak to the Melbourne man to find out how he survived so long without food or water.

But he has now refused to speak publicly over his ordeal and miracle escape.

A representative from State Emergency Service told Daily Mail Australia Mr Nazari was hoping to sell his story to the highest bidder.

‘He wants to pay off his university fees and hopes to get $100,000,’ she said.

Instead he asked police to pass on a short statement thanking the rescue workers. 

‘I would like to thank all of the emergency services personnel for their tireless work searching for 13 days in tough conditions, to locate me,’ his statement read.

‘I would also like to thank members of the public, family and friends for their well wishes and prayers.’

He added: ‘As I continue to recover, I ask the media for privacy at this time.’

The Melbourne-based neurosurgeon student, 23, lost his friends when he went to take photos along the Hannels Spur Trail between Khancoban and Thredbo in the NSW Snowy Mountains at around 2.30pm on December 26.

He was lost for almost two weeks in the rugged wilderness until a group of passing hikers spotted him near Blue Lake in the national park about 3pm on Wednesday.

Authorities spent an estimated $2million on the search and rescue operation over the two weeks, despite criticism from his family initially about a lack of resources.

His surprise escape from the barren mountain area has been branded a miracle and sparked a media frenzy after two weeks of reporting on the search for him which helped keep hopes alive for him.

Now Mr Nazari hopes to cash in on the interest with an exclusive deal to tell his story. 

It’s been reported he survived on just wild berries and two muesli bars he found in a hut on the mountainside and appeared in amazing condition when found.

It is believed various media agents have approached the family in order to secure and negotiate the terms of an exclusive television interview since he was found.

Speaking to the media on his friend’s behalf outside the hospital, Hussain Ali stressed Mr Nazari clearly remembers exactly how he got through the ordeal.

‘He came out of the van and saw me and we were all surprised and shocked at how fit and healthy he was after 13 days,’ Mr Ali said, as he hyped up interest in the .

 ‘He remembers everything. He was telling a story and we said stay quiet and relax.’

Mr Ali added that Mr Nazari’s ordeal could even make for a book deal down the track.

‘I was having a chat with my cousin, that he can write a book but we haven’t had a chat with him (Mr Nazari) properly yet,’ he said.

His harrowing ordeal came to an end on Wednesday after he called out to the group of hikers and explained he was lost and thirsty.  

He was soon winched to safety and assessed by paramedics before presenting to Cooma hospital that evening as a medical precaution.

Despite surviving off just the muesli bars and wild berries, ‘dehydration and blisters on his feet’ are understood to be Mr Nazari’s main medical concerns. 

Although he had previously hiked overseas, it was the first time he had visited the Kosciuszko National Park.