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For about 10 minutes on Thursday, the family of missing bushwalker Lily Hooper thought she had been found alive after eight days missing in the NSW Southern Highlands.
But after the 18-year-old’s family were informed she was alive just after 11am, they were then told police were still working to determine her condition, raising questions over the miscommunication. Shortly after police confirmed Hooper had been found dead.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Joseph Cassar said hundreds of searchers had looked day and night in thick, dense terrain for more than a week since Hooper went missing on August 12.
Cassar suggested the incorrect report that Hooper had been found alive resulted from a communications error.
“They’re carrying handheld communication devices … sometimes the communication is a challenge,” he told reporters.
“Within eight to 10 minutes, we were able to give [Hooper’s family] an update, which was a more accurate account of the discovery of the person we believed to be Lily.
“My absolute condolences goes out to Lily’s mum and dad.”
NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said he was proud of the “highly trained and highly proficient” volunteers involved in the search.
“Our thoughts do go out to the family, the friends of Lily. They’re the ones that deserve all the thoughts and prayers right now,” Malone said.
“Radio communication, like mobile phone communication, as we all experience, when you’re in black spots or tricky areas, the information does get broken up a little bit.”
Cassar confirmed an SES volunteer made the discovery and a police officer conveyed to Hooper’s family that she was alive.
“He was there every single day. He had close communications with both Lily’s mother and father,” he said.
“If we were able to provide them more detailed information on that first report, I can tell you that would have been the case, but unfortunately, it did take that small period of time.”
“It’s certainly not the outcome that we’d hoped, and there is great sadness out there with all the searchers involved.”
How Hooper died is still being investigated and it will take some time to retrieve her body, Cassar said. The prospect of flying her out of the dense bushland is “proving to be exceptionally difficult” and she will likely be carried out.
Hooper’s body was a significant distance from her car, and was not on a clear, walkable track, Cassar said.
“The priority is focused on getting Lily out of that dense terrain and to reunite her with her family.”
A report will be prepared for the coroner and the miscommunication will also be investigated.
Family and friends were seen embracing and consoling each other at the search’s command post about midday on Thursday.
NSW Premier Chris Minns told parliament on Thursday morning that Hooper was found dead, only minutes after announcing she had been discovered alive.
“I’ve got some terrible news, and I apologise to the committee. But it seems as if the early advice was wrong, and Lily’s body’s been found, and she’s been found deceased,” Minns said.
“This is obviously devastating, and I’m just profoundly sad for her family and for all those concerned. I apologise to the community.”
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane called Hooper’s death “heartbreaking”, and expressed her sympathies to her family and friends as they confronted an “unimaginable loss”.
“So many people had been hoping for Lily’s safe return and today’s news will be difficult and deeply felt,” Sloane said.
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, Hooper’s local member, published and then deleted a social media post indicating she had been found alive, later saying the incorrect reports of her survival made the family’s loss even worse.
“We can only imagine what Lily’s family is going through right now. Such news would be a nightmare for any parent, and we grieve for Lily’s wider family,” Taylor told parliament.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the family’s loss was an unspeakable tragedy.
“Lily Hooper had so much more to offer the world. Her passing, I have no doubt, will be felt very deeply,” he told parliament.
“Our thoughts are of course with her family and loved ones on what is an incredibly sad and difficult day.”
MPs also rose for a moment’s silence.
Hooper was last seen leaving her home in Oakdale, south-west of Sydney, 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.
Close to 100 Australian Defence Force members joined the search on Wednesday, combining with other emergency services who had been looking for the teenager since she went missing a week earlier.
Drones and helicopters scoured the national park from the sky, while officers searched bushland on horseback and motorbikes.
Firefighters, national park rangers, paramedics and SES volunteers were 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.
It followed comments from her father Jim on Monday, who called into 2SM radio for an impromptu interview.
“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.
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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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