A 19-year-old man has been found alive five days after becoming separated from a friend while hiking on a mountain in southern Brazil. According to reports, he managed to walk more than 12 miles through dense forest to reach safety.
On Monday, Jan. 5, Roberto Farias Thomaz was discovered safe after going missing on Pico Paraná, one of the highest peaks in the country, Brazilian news outlets Busão Curitiba and Jornal Folha do Litoral News, along with Brazilian network RPC, reported.
Lt. Col. Ícaro Gabriel of the Paraná Fire Department rescue team said in a video shared by Busão Curitiba that the teen traveled more than 12 miles while descending the mountain on foot. Thomaz ultimately reached the Antonina region, located on the coast of Paraná state.
“After five days of searching, with more than 100 firefighters involved and around 300 volunteers every day, we achieved this happy outcome,” Gabriel said in the translated video statement, noting the extreme challenges the young man faced during the ordeal.
Paraná Governor Ratinho Júnior also confirmed Thomaz’s safe return in a post on X.
“The young Roberto was found in Antonina and is already receiving care,” the governor said in a translated statement. “Our sincere thanks to the Fire Department, the Secretary of Public Security, and all the volunteers who acted with dedication and humanity in this search.”
According to RPC, Thomaz was hiking Pico Paraná with a friend on Wednesday, Dec. 31, when he began to feel ill. The pair reached the summit at around 4 a.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 1. Roughly two hours later, they began their descent with one of two groups they had encountered on the trail. Before reaching the campsite, however, Thomaz became separated from the others.
Neither his group nor hikers who descended later were able to locate him. With no cellphone on hand, Thomaz could not call for help. By 1:45 p.m. that afternoon, rescue teams began searching for the missing hiker. The operation quickly expanded to include additional rescue professionals, experienced mountaineers, and aircraft equipped with thermal imaging technology.
Search efforts were hampered by rugged terrain, heavy rain, and fog, Busão Curitiba reported. At the same time, Thomaz was navigating dense forest with limited supplies as he attempted to find a way down the mountain.
After reaching a lower area, Thomaz made his first video contact with his family.
“My body is covered in bruises, I have several scrapes, I can’t see because I lost my glasses, but I’m okay,” he told them in a video shared by RPC. He said he had found refuge at a farm in the town of Cacatu.
After being retrieved by first responders and taken to a hospital, a spokesperson confirmed to Jornal Folha do Litoral News that Thomaz was alert and conscious, though he showed signs of dehydration and had hematomas on his legs.
His family expressed overwhelming relief after learning he was safe.
“We found Roberto!” they said after he was first located, according to Busão Curitiba. “Thank you to all the angels who came here to help us. Thank you for your prayers.”
