Bohdi Jackson, 17, vanished during a 5-mile training run in Kosciuszko National Park on January 13, only to be found seven hours later almost 31 miles off course.
At a Glance
- Sydney teen ran 31 miles instead of 5 after taking a wrong turn
- Loud rap music drowned out awareness he was lost for two hours
- Found by mountain-bike rider and lifted out by rescue helicopter
- Why it matters: Highlights how fast familiar trails can turn dangerous without basic safety gear
The Sydney athlete had bolted ahead of his triathlon squad on the Cascade Trail when he missed a turn and kept going. “I went a bit too far and forgot to turn around,” Jackson told ABC. Blasting rap at high volume, he didn’t notice the error until the 12-kilometre mark-by then, back-tracking felt worse than pushing on.
Wrong Turn Becomes Marathon-Plus Trek
Jackson’s miscalculation turned a morning jog into an all-day ordeal. He rationed energy, resting every 2 km and wading in icy rivers to cool down, unaware the water was untreated. “Apparently, it’s not drinkable,” he joked. “I might have diarrhea.”
Search crews from NSW Police, National Parks and Wildlife, Rural Fire Service and SES fanned out across the alpine terrain. They issued a geo-text to every phone in the area, urging anyone who saw the teen to call triple-zero.
Chance Encounter Leads to Chopper Lift
Luck arrived in the form of a lone cyclist. Jackson flagged her down, borrowed her mobile and rang police. He was roughly 30 km from the trailhead-18.6 miles farther than planned. A helicopter soon hovered overhead, winching him aboard. “They hooked me up and pulled me onto the helicopter,” he recalled. “It was very cool-very loud.”
Medics cleared him on site; apart from exhausted legs he felt “alright.” Dinner plans were already set: “a steak and a choccy milk.” He even quipped he might go “for a long run tomorrow.”
Safety Warning for Alpine Visitors
Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim used the incident to remind visitors that Kosciuszko’s beauty masks real risks. “Bushwalkers are urged to always submit trip-intention forms to NSW National Parks, carry suitable clothing, sufficient water, food and, most importantly, a personal locator beacon,” Sim said. “You can’t always rely on mobile-phone reception.”
Key Takeaways
- Carry a PLB and tell someone your exact route and return time
- Headphones at low volume-or one bud out-keep you aware of turns and trail markers
- Turning back early beats gambling on an unknown ridge line
- Park agencies coordinate fast, multi-agency searches when given accurate details
