The body of 18-year-old Lily Hooper has been found in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, concluding an eight-day search.
Hooper was reported missing on August 12 after she failed to return home from a hike in a Sydney national park. Her car was located in a car park at the base of a trail in Nattai National Park. The discovery of her body was made on Thursday at approximately 11:30 local time.
Initially, there was confusion regarding Hooper's condition. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns informed a parliamentary hearing that she had been found alive, a report echoed by local media suggesting her family had also received this information. Minns later corrected his statement, confirming that Hooper's body had been found and she was deceased. He expressed his sadness for her family and apologized to the committee.
A comprehensive, multi-agency search effort was undertaken over the preceding week. Participating agencies included various units of the NSW Police Force, such as PolAir, the Rescue Unit, the Trail Bike Unit, the Mounted Unit, and the Dog Unit. Support was also provided by the Rural Fire Service, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and nearly 100 members of the Australian Defence Force.