Lily Hooper's family has shared new details about the teenager's final moments, indicating she likely died from a fall on the same day she disappeared while hiking in Nattai National Park. The 18-year-old was reported missing on August 12 after she failed to return from a hike on the Bonnum Pic Trail, located approximately 90 kilometers southwest of Sydney.
Her body was discovered eight days later, on August 20, following an extensive search involving nearly 1,000 personnel, including many volunteers. Preliminary reports suggest Lily suffered an accident on the afternoon she went missing and died that same day, lying peacefully in dense bushland. Her mother, Kirrily Hooper, described the period of uncertainty as "surreal" and shared that the family found solace knowing Lily did not suffer in the cold.
Lily had planned to complete her hike before attending martial arts training and meeting her boyfriend. When she did not arrive as scheduled, her boyfriend contacted her sister at 9:15 p.m. The family gathered supplies, including extra headlamps and torches, initially believing her car might be stuck in mud. Police later confirmed her car was found locked and empty.
Lily's father, Jim Hooper, expressed his grief and gratitude, praising the rescue workers and police for their efforts. Despite an initial miscommunication about Lily being found alive, he stated he held no anger towards the authorities, emphasizing their commitment to finding his daughter. He also spoke of the profound impact her absence has on their family.
The family is now advocating for increased safety measures in Nattai National Park and other hiking areas. They have called for improved signage and wider trails to prevent future incidents. They also support initiatives to make personal locator beacons more accessible. "Make it so that when you're coming back, you know where you are and the signs will obviously guide you back," Mr. Hooper said, speaking with NSW Premier Chris Minns about trail safety.
Ms. Hooper encouraged young people to explore nature but stressed the importance of risk mitigation. "It's important to not scare people from doing that, but they should just learn that there needs to be some risk mitigation," she stated. The family noted the park's stunning beauty, understanding why Lily was drawn to hike there.