SYDNEY PREPARES TO TURN PURPLE FOR LILY HOOPER AS HEARTBROKEN FAMILY FAREWELLS THE 18-YEAR-OLD TEEN HIKER—BUT BEHIND THE EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE LIES THE HAUNTING TRAG-EDY OF THE EIGHT-DAY SEARCH THAT ENDED IN THE NSW BUSHLAND
Family and friends of teenage hiker Lily Hooper have farewelled her at a private funeral, with Sydney set to honour her memory in a special way tonight.
The 18-year-old set off on a trail in Nattai National Park on August 12 for what was meant to be a day hike.
Her body was found in dense bushland eight days later following a gruelling search involving hundreds of emergency services personnel and volunteers.
In a touching tribute requested by her family, the Harbour Bridge pylons have been illuminated in blue tonight in Lily’s memory.
The symbolic gesture saw one of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks lit up to remember the young woman whose death shocked the community.
Last week, preliminary reports indicated Hooper suffered a fall and died on the first day she went missing.
“In hindsight we now know she passed quickly and she didn’t suffer in the cold,” her mum Kirrily told the Daily Telegraph.
Hooper had planned to attend a martial arts training session at Bujutsu Martial Arts and Fitness Centre before heading to her boyfriend’s home after the hike.
When she failed to arrive at her boyfriend’s home as expected, he contacted her sister, prompting the search for the missing teenager.
Hooper, who worked as a tour guide at Sydney Harbour Bridge’s BridgeClimb, was remembered by her father Jim Hooper as “unstoppable” and “fearless”.
“She just loved the outdoors. She just had so many skills that, you know, we tried to install in her. Yeah, she was just a clever kid who wasn’t afraid to take anything on. That was her free spirit,” he said.
Hooper’s family is now calling for better bush safety education and greater awareness of emergency tracking devices for young people venturing into remote areas.
“We think it’d be good if there was a legacy that was left like a Skye’s Law, Jack’s Law … Lily’s Law,” Jim said.
