Eighteen-year-old Nathaniel Green expressed relief after being rescued following three harrowing days lost in the mountains west of the Gold Coast. He initially planned to hike at Mount Barney for a stunning sunrise but became disoriented when his phone died and he ran out of water. Believing he was on the right path home, he soon realised he was lost.
His friends and emergency services launched a search when he failed to return, with helicopters scouring the area. Green found comfort in knowing search efforts were ongoing, although he spent two cold nights outdoors, surviving on a muesli bar, sweets, and creek water. After days of calling for help, he was finally located and winched to safety.
Despite being exhausted and hungry, he was unharmed. Green acknowledged his inexperience, admitting this was his first trip to Mount Barney and regretted assuming it would be an easy hike. His weekend now centres around recovery from the ordeal, highlighting the unpredictability of outdoor adventures for novice hikers.