Missing Hiker: Body found believed to be Lily Hooper’s, pending formal identification
The missing hiker Lily Hooper has not been formally identified, but NSW Police said a body found in bushland is believed to be that of the 18-year-old. The body was located after an eight-day search in the Southern Highlands, and police said a report would be prepared for the Coroner. ABC News
Body found believed to be Lily Hooper’s, pending formal identification
NSW Police said the body of a woman was located in bushland in the Southern Highlands at about 11.30am on Thursday. Police said it was believed to be Hooper’s, but formal identification had not yet taken place. ABC News
The discovery followed the search for Hooper in Nattai National Park, about 90km south-west of Sydney. Police said the body was found in bushland and that a report would be prepared for the Coroner. The Guardian
There was confusion earlier on Thursday when NSW Premier Chris Minns told a parliamentary hearing that Hooper had been found alive in the bush with half a bottle of water. He later said the advice he had received was wrong and apologised after being told that a body had been found. Nine News
How the search began
Hooper left her home south-west of Sydney on the morning of Wednesday, 12 August, to go hiking in Nattai National Park. Nine News reported that she left her home in Oakdale at about 8am and was reported missing after she had not returned by 10pm. Nine News
Her car was found near the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail on Wanganderry Road at High Range. Initial police inquiries indicated that she had reached the summit of Bonnum Pic mid-morning and had sent messages from the trail earlier that day. The Guardian
The search covered difficult terrain in the national park, including steep drops, dense undergrowth and complex cliff lines. ABC News reported that police used a thermal-imaging helicopter and examined telecommunications data as part of efforts to trace her last movements. ABC News
Search effort and what remains unknown
The operation involved NSW Police, the State Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, PolAir and rescue teams. Almost 100 Australian Defence Force personnel and 280 NSW SES volunteers were involved, according to ABC News and Nine News. ABC News Nine News
Cold and wet weather affected the search, while dense bushland and a thick tree canopy made aerial searching more difficult. The search had also involved Hooper’s family and volunteers from rescue organisations. The Guardian
The latest verified position is that a body has been located and is believed to be Hooper’s, but police have not formally identified it. Available reporting does not establish the cause of death or any further details about the circumstances.