‘Just kept on going’: Inside lost teen triathlete’s overnight ordeal after getting lost in Kosciuszko National Park

A 17-year-old triathlete nearly spent a night in bushland after the young teenager went missing on a run in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Bodhi Jackson was on a triathlon camp when he sped off from his group and took a wrong turn, leading him to travel about 50km. Speaking to the ABC about his overnight ordeal, he said he “went a bit too far and forgot to turn around and kept on running”. “And I got lost,” Mr Jackson admitted. He told the broadcaster he got distracted by “very loud” rap music from his speaker and only realised after a couple of hours he was lost. “At like 12 kilometres in, (I realised I was lost) and I wasn’t going to turn around there because then you have to do 24 kilometres,” Mr Jackson said. “I just kept on going.” Bodhi was reported missing after he was last seen on the Cascade Trail about 9.30am on Tuesday. After a major seven-hour search effort, he was located on a walking trail by a mountain bike rider, approximately 30km away from where he was last seen. Mr Jackson used her phone to call authorities. He told ABC he was preparing to find a place to sleep for the night when he was found. Police released a geo-text message to Thredbo and surrounding areas and co-operated with SES, NSW Rural Fire Service, and NSW National Parks and Wildlife service to locate the boy. He was flown back to his friends, who are part of a small running group. The group had rang emergency services when he did not return earlier that day. “They hooked me up and they pulled me up onto the helicopter,” Mr Jackson said. “It was very cool — it was very loud.” Mr Jackson was only meant to run 8km, however, after getting lost and having no reception he ran 30km and walked another 20km over the course of the day. He says he took breaks every 2 kilometres and was swimming in the river water to cool down. “Apparently, it’s not drinkable water though,” he said. Mr Jackson told ABC he was scared that he wasn’t going to find anyone, and that he would be stuck there. When he reunited with his friends he was assessed by paramedics. He said the plan post rescue was to have “steak and a choccy milk,” joking that he may back it up with “a long run tomorrow”. “My legs are very tired but I actually feel alright,” he added. Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim from Monaro Police District says while the Kosciuszko National Park is a “beautiful place” it can also be “dangerous” when an individual does not plan their trip carefully. “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,” he said in statement today. “Always check the weather and tell someone reliable where you’re going and when you intend to return”. “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” he said.