A hiker who had gone missing for five days was discovered alive despite being without a phone or food and admitted he believed he might not survive the situation. Roberto Farias Tomaz, 19, went missing on January 1 while hiking towards Pico Paraná, the tallest mountain in southern Brazil, after separating from his friend. He managed to trek around 20km alone through the forest until he reached a farm in Cacatu, Antonina, where he borrowed a phone to inform his sister of his survival. Rescuers located him and took him to the hospital for evaluation.
In an emotional interview with RPC, a TV Globo affiliate in Paraná, Roberto shared his harrowing experience, expressing his initial fear of not making it. Despite hallucinating and feeling close to death, he drew strength from thoughts of his family. Over 100 firefighters and 300 volunteers participated in the search, with Roberto realizing they were looking for him when he heard a helicopter on the first day of being lost.
Although Roberto feared the search might have been called off, he persevered, trusting in his fate and divine protection. Following medical assessments and rehydration, it was determined that he had minor injuries but nothing severe. Roberto expressed gratitude towards all those involved in the search efforts and credited his family and faith for helping him endure the ordeal.
His family, based in Pinhais, Curitiba, have been reunited with him and expressed their relief and gratitude for his safe return. Officials, including Governor Ratinho Junior and State Secretary of Public Security, Colonel Hudson Leoncio Teixeira, commended the search teams and volunteers for their dedicated efforts in locating Roberto. The successful rescue operation was hailed as a result of the tireless work and collaboration of all involved parties.