Australian hiker Lily Hooper’s body recovered, officials apologise over misreport
After an eight‑day search involving about 1,000 volunteers, the authorities confirmed that missing 18‑year‑old hiker Lily Hooper had died in the bushland of the Southern Highlands, not survived as earlier reported.
State Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon issued apologies to the family on Friday, acknowledging the error and the brief period during which her parents were led to believe she was alive.
The confusion stemmed from a miscommunication during the operation. Emergency services often use coded phrases that can be misunderstood; in this case a brief report of “half a bottle of water” was mistakenly interpreted as a life‑sustaining sign.
Hooper’s body was air‑lifted from Nattai National Park and will undergo a post‑mortem examination to confirm her identity and determine the cause of death.
Police will review procedures to ensure communication is “foolproof” in future searches, with both the premier and commissioner stressing the challenges of coordinating remote operations.
