A young hiker, Roberto Farias Tomaz, who went missing during a hike in Brazil and was found alive after five days, shared his harrowing experience of believing he might not survive the ordeal. Tomaz, 19, had lost contact with his friend while hiking towards Pico Paraná, the tallest mountain in southern Brazil, on January 1. He wandered alone for approximately 20km through the forest until he reached a farm in Cacatu, Antonina, where he borrowed a phone to inform his sister of his survival.
After being located, Tomaz, who had no phone or substantial food supplies, was hospitalized for evaluation. In an emotional interview with RPC, a TV Globo affiliate, he expressed his moments of despair and hallucinations but credited his faith and thoughts of his family for keeping him determined. Despite initial doubts about the search efforts, Tomaz eventually heard a helicopter, signaling that rescuers were looking for him.
Following medical assessments, Tomaz was determined to have minor injuries and was undergoing rehydration. He expressed gratitude towards the numerous volunteers and professionals involved in his search and rescue. His family, residing in Pinhais near Curitiba, reunited with him and expressed immense appreciation for the support received during the distressing time.
The Governor of Paraná commended the search teams for their dedication in locating Tomaz, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of various organizations and volunteers. The State Secretary of Public Security acknowledged the intensive search operation and the crucial role of rescue teams and volunteers in ensuring Tomaz’s safe return.