A teenage runner who embarked on what was supposed to be a five-mile run with friends wound up traveling more than 30 miles before being found in New South Wales, Australia.
On Tuesday (January 13), 17-year-old Bohdi Jackson set out on a run through the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park with a group of friends while attending a triathlon camp.
However, he took a wrong turn after running ahead of the pack and didn’t realize that he left everyone else behind.
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According to reporting by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, his group alerted authorities after he failed to show up at the trailhead for Cascade Trail, sparking a seven-hour search and rescue mission that involved cooperation between NSW Police, National Parks and Wildlife Service and the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Speaking to the outlet, Jackson explained that he didn’t realize he’d gone off on his own, as he was caught up in the “very loud” music that he was listening to. By the time that he realized what had happened, he’s traveled more than 7 miles.
“I wasn’t going to turn around there because then you have to do [14 miles],” he said.
Due to poor phone reception, the teen wasn’t able to alert anyone that he was missing so he told the outlet that he decided to keep going in hopes of finding a road and a ride back to safety.
To pace himself, he said that he “took a bunch of breaks” and “was swimming in the river water a bit to cool down.”
Finally, he found a mountain biker, who helped him reach out to the authorities. By 5 p.m., seven hours after he went missing, Jackson was on a helicopter heading back to his camp.
“I was scared that I wasn’t going to find anyone, and I was going to be stuck there,” he admitted.
The teen stressed that he was alright, saying that he really wanted “steak and a choccy milk” as a meal after his ordeal. He said that he might even head out for “a long run tomorrow,” too.
Overall, his health was good.
“My legs are very tired but I actually feel alright,” he said.
In a statement, NSW Police noted that was more than 18 miles away from where he’d started when he was finally found.
“While the Kosciuszko National Park is in a beautiful place to enjoy bushwalking, it can be a dangerous place if you do not plan your trip carefully,” Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim from Monaro Police District warned in the press release.
“Bushwalkers are urged to always submit trip intention form to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services and to have suitable clothing, and carry sufficient water and food. Always check the weather and tell someone reliable where you’re going and when you intend to return,” they added. “It is also strongly advised to carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) with you when venturing into the Park. You can’t always rely on mobile phone reception.”
Just Jared reached out to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the NSW Rural Fire Service for additional comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.