WE THOUGHT LILY WAS ALIVE…—FAMILY’S HOPE SHATTERED AFTER POLICE CORRECT EARLIER UPDATE, WITH B0DY FOUND EIGHT DAYS INTO DESPERATE SEARCH
A body has been found in the search for missing hiker Lily Hooper, eight days after she went missing.
Police said in a statement on Thursday that they had found a body in bushland in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Lily Hooper, 18,went missing last Wednesday. NSW Police
“The body of a woman has been located in bushland following the search for a missing bushwalker in the Southern Highlands today,” the statement said.
“While yet to be formally identified, the body is believed to be that of the 18-year-old woman.
“A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.”
Earlier on Thursday, NSW Premier Chris Minns had shared that he had been told he had been found alive.
From trash to treasure: Waste to energy explainedMitsubishi Heavy Industries
MedPark’s Proud Patanavanich runs a hospital where patients, physicians precede profitsThe Business Times
Minns was given a handwritten note as he was addressing budget estimates. He briefly read the note before turning to a staffer behind him and asking “is this accurate?”
“Yes”, was the response.
“We’ve got some fantastic news, Mr. Chair. Lily Hooper has been found alive,” Minns said.
“[She was] found in the bush with half a bottle of water with it, so that’s fantastic news.”
He issued a swift statement after the announcement the body had been found.
Minns sought clarification from his staff before making the announcement. Nine
“She has been found deceased, and I only raise that because I gave earlier advice,” Minns said.
“This is obviously devastating, and I am profoundly sad for the family and all those concerned.”
In a follow-up statement released after 1.30pm, he apologised for the information he shared, saying he genuinely believed his update to be true.
“Advice I received earlier today relating to Lily Hooper was incorrect,” he said.
“I genuinely believed I was sharing good news.
“My deepest condolences are with Lily’s family. I am profoundly sorry to think that anything I said may have added to their heartbreak at an already devastating time.”
Hooper went missing last Wednesday after embarking on a bushwalk, but she was found after 11 am on Thursday.
The last sighting of Hooper before she went missing was on Wednesday, August 12 when she left her home on Burragorang Road in Oakdale at about 8am to go on a hike.
When she hadn’t returned home by 10pm, her family reported her missing.
Her car was found about an hour later on Wanganderry Road at High Range, near the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail in Nattai National Park.
Lily is about 175cm tall, with a slim build, long blonde hair, and blue eyes.
She was last seen wearing a shirt and shorts.
The search for Hooper had been ongoing for days, with her family joining in the search.
Rescue crews had battled difficult conditions, as cold and wet weather hit the area over the last week.
Searches have taken place over the last week, with hundreds of volunteers involved. SES Wingecarribee
“The NSW SES released an update this morning before reports Hooper had been found emerged.
“Over 280 NSW SES volunteers and specialist personnel have rotated through this operation since last week,” a post on social media said.
Advertisement
“Our Remote Area Bush Search and Rescue teams are continuing to navigate exceptionally steep drops, dense undergrowth, and complex clifflines across Nattai National Park to ensure every search grid is thoroughly covered.”
SOURCE: https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/nsw/missing-bushwalker-lily-hooper-found-after-eight-days-missing-nsw-premier-says-20260820-p60q20.html
