Rescued bushwalker Hadi Nazari has been discharged from hospital and will continue recovering from 13 days lost in the Australian Alps at home.
Treated for dehydration at Cooma Hospital after his ordeal, Mr Nazari was released on Friday morning and will return to his home in Melbourne.
Mr Nazari was found by a group of hikers on Wednesday, near Blue Lake in the Kosciuszko National Park, after he was last seen by friends descending the Hannels Spur trail on Boxing Day.
Search and rescue specialist Paul Luckin told AAP he was glad his earlier doubts about the prospect of Mr Nazari being found alive after almost two weeks had not borne out.
I love being wrong when Im being pessimistic, he said.
Im always delighted when we have a survivor ... and it was always a possibility.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr Nazari praised the tireless work of emergency services personnel who spent 13 days searching for him amid tough conditions.
I would also like to thank members of the public, family and friends for their well wishes and prayers, Mr Nazari said in a statement released through NSW Police.
While a lot of credit was due to the hundreds of rescuers and volunteers who dedicated almost two weeks to finding Mr Nazari, there was an element of luck involved in him coming across a group of other hikers, Mr Luckin said.
Rescuers found missing bushwalker Hadi Nazari after almost two weeks of searching
Hussain Ali, cousin of Hadi Nazari, says the rescued hiker is doing well. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
He was some distance from where he was expected to be because he had kept on moving and covered such a large distance, he said.
Mr Nazari would have been unlikely to have had much idea where he was headed given the terrain and thick vegetation, Mr Luckin said.
But the gruelling experience, and its incredible, positive outcome, provided some lessons.
In most cases, the best advice is as soon as you realise youre lost, stop - because you are then closest to the last known point, Mr Luckin said.
You stand a much better chance of being found and a much better chance of being found early.
Hadi Nazari was found alive after a 13-day search involving hundreds of rescuers and volunteers
Those setting off to a remote area should familiarise themselves with the terrain and bring maps and personal locator beacons.
Beacons cost about $300 to $400 and can be hired for free in several NSW national parks, including Kosciuszko.