Teenage triathlete rescued after running nearly 30 miles through mountains

A teenage triathlete from Sydney was safely rescued after unintentionally running nearly 30 miles through rugged mountain terrain in Kosciuszko National Park while on a training run, an ordeal that turned into a major search and sparked widespread relief when he was found in good spirits.

Seventeen‑year‑old Bohdi Jackson was participating in a routine 5‑mile run as part of a triathlon camp when he sped ahead of his group and took a wrong turn, becoming disoriented in the isolated Australian alpine park.

“I went a bit too far and forgot to turn around and kept on running,” Jackson later told reporters, admitting that he only realized he was lost after several hours of running while listening to very loud music. “And I got lost.”

Despite intending to turn back once he noticed he was off course, Jackson said he kept going with the hope of finding a road where he might catch a ride back to his group. “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… I just kept on going,” he said, explaining how he continued his journey through the remote landscape.

During the inadvertent run, the teen took frequent breaks, roughly every two kilometres, and cooled off by swimming in river water along the way. “Apparently it’s not drinkable water though. I might have diarrhoea,” he joked afterward while recounting the experience.

When Jackson failed to return to the trailhead, his running group reported him missing, prompting a seven‑hour search coordinated by NSW Police, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Rural Fire Service. The massive effort included geo‑text alerts in surrounding areas to help locate the missing teen.

Jackson was eventually found by a mountain biker about 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from the start of his run. He used her phone to call authorities before being flown back to safety by helicopter. “They hooked me up and they pulled me up onto the helicopter — it was very cool — it was very loud,” he said with a smile. After being briefly assessed by paramedics, Jackson reported that his legs were “very tired” but that he otherwise felt fine. He even joked about his post‑rescue plans, saying he wanted “steak and a choccy milk” and might go for “a long run tomorrow.”

Police officials stressed that Jackson’s experience was a stark reminder of how challenging and potentially dangerous alpine terrain can be without proper preparation. They urged anyone venturing into the park to submit trip intentions, carry adequate supplies, check weather conditions and bring a personal locator beacon, noting that mobile reception is unreliable in many areas.