Lily Hooper found alive after search in Nattai National Park
Lily Hooper found: the 18-year-old bushwalker was located alive in the NSW Southern Highlands on Thursday, after eight days missing. Her condition had not yet been confirmed, with rescuers working to assess her when the latest report was published. The Sydney Morning Herald
Lily Hooper found alive after search in Nattai National Park
Police informed Hooper’s family shortly after 11am that she had been found. The search had focused on Nattai National Park and the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail, where her car was located after she failed to return from a hike. The Sydney Morning Herald
Available reporting does not establish where exactly Hooper was found, how she survived the eight days, or the extent of any injuries. Rescuers were still determining her condition in the latest update. The Sydney Morning Herald
How the search unfolded
Hooper left her home on Burragorang Road in Oakdale, in Sydney’s south-west, at about 8am on August 12 to go hiking. She stayed in contact with her family during the day, but they contacted authorities after she had not returned by 10pm. Her Hyundai was found roughly an hour later on Wanganderry Road at High Range, near the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail. 9News
The search continued for a week across difficult terrain described in reports as containing dense bushland, deep ravines, cliffs, creeks and challenging walking conditions. Police and emergency crews used trail bikes, horses, dogs, drones and helicopters, while volunteers and specialist teams searched on foot. ABC News
On August 19, almost 100 Australian Defence Force personnel from Holsworthy Barracks joined the operation. They worked alongside police, the State Emergency Service, Fire and Rescue NSW, VRA Rescue, paramedics, national park rangers and other search personnel. ABC News
What remains unknown
Before Hooper was located, reports said police had found no trace of her near the car and that crews were continuing to search the national park. The available reports do not provide further details about the discovery or say whether Hooper had been taken to hospital.
The confirmed latest state is that Hooper was found alive and that rescuers were assessing her condition. Further details about her health and the circumstances of her disappearance had not been established in the reporting available.