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The army has joined the search for missing Sydney bushwalker Lily Hooper, a week after she failed to return from a trip to the Nattai National Park in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Close to 100 Australian Defence Force members joined the search on Wednesday, combining with other emergency services who have been looking for the 18-year-old since she went missing a week ago. Drones and helicopters have also been scouring the national park from the sky.
Hooper was last seen leaving her home in Oakdale in Sydney’s south-west at 8am on Wednesday last week to go on a hike through the national park. Throughout the day, she remained in contact with her family, but they raised the alarm when she had not returned by 10pm.
Police found her Hyundai parked at the bottom of the challenging Bonnum Pic trail that night.
Officers have been scouring the park on horseback and motorbikes. Firefighters, national park rangers, paramedics and SES volunteers are also involved in the search.
In a statement on Tuesday, Hooper’s family thanked others who had tried to help.
“We appreciate people who have made offers for the search but due to the terrain and conditions we ask just professional search teams continue,” the Hooper family said in the statement distributed by NSW Police.
“We also ask for privacy and understanding as our family navigates this unimaginable situation.”
The statement came a day after Hooper’s father Jim called into 2SM radio, surprising host Tim Webster as he took calls from his breakfast show audience.
“I just want everyone to throw love and energy because we’ve got to go and find her, got to go find this kid … she’s got to be in there somewhere, mate,” he said.
Rescuers remained hopeful of finding Hooper given her experience but no trace of her has been located yet. She was last seen wearing a shirt and shorts but it’s not known what clothing or supplies she had taken with her.
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.From our partners
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