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Roberto Farias Tomaz was taken to the hospital for tests(Image: Bruno Fávaro/RPC)

A missing hiker who was found alive five days after he went missing with no phone or food confessed he thought he would die during the ordeal.

Roberto Farias Tomaz, 19, had been hiking on the trail leading to Pico Paraná, the highest mountain in southern Brazil, with a friend when they became separated and he disappeared on January 1. According to a firefighter who worked on the rescue, the young man walked alone through the woods for about 20km until he reached a farm in the town of Cacatu in the municipality of Antonina on Monday.

Once there, he borrowed a mobile phone to call his sister and tell her he was alive. Once he was located, the hiker, who had no phone on him and survived on limited food and water supplies, was taken to the hospital for tests.

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He was found alive five days after he disappeared(Image: G1)

In an interview with RPC, a TV Globo affiliate in Paraná, Roberto made an emotional confession about his ordeal, saying: “I thought it was the end.” He added he “hallucinated” and thought he “might have already died” but kept his faith alive and thought about his family to stay strong.

The hiker continued: “I said, ‘Look, I want to get home safe and sound. I just ask for protection for that.'” More than 100 firefighters and 300 volunteers were involved in the search – and Roberto said on the first day he was lost, he realised they were looking for him after he heard a helicopter.

However, he thought that rescuers may have given up after finding no sign of him. He told the publication: “On the third day I said, ‘Look, they may have called off the search, but God is with me and I’m going to follow this destiny, this path he gave me, this rocky path.'”

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He said he feared he would die(Image: G1)

After the young man underwent medical checks and rehydration procedures, healthcare professionals said he has abrasions but no serious injuries. Now recovering, Roberto thanked all the volunteers and professionals who searched for him.

He added: “I can only thank everyone who went up, those who prayed, those who felt this emotion along with my family, who were also there. I can only thank God very much, also my mother, my main guide, and everyone, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you very much to everyone who was there.”

The young man’s family, who live in Pinhais, in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, have since reunited with the teen. They released a message which read: “We found Roberto! He is alive, he is well, and he is already being taken to the hospital. Thank you to all the angels who came here to help us! Thank you for your prayers.”

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Pico Paraná is the highest mountain in southern Brazil(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The Governor of Paraná, Ratinho Junior, praised the efforts of the search teams, saying: “Young Roberto was found in Antonina and is already receiving care. Our sincere thanks to the Fire Department, the Secretary of Public Security, and all the volunteers who worked with dedication and humanity in this search.”

The State Secretary of Public Security, Colonel Hudson Leoncio Teixeira, added: “It was five days of intense searching by our security forces. During this period, the young man who was missing on Pico Paraná managed to travel to Antonina, where he was found alive. The mobilization and preparedness of the rescue teams, with the support of several volunteers, were fundamental to the success of the operation.”