18-Year-Old Lily Hooper Found Dead After Eight-Day Search in Australian Bush

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:31:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Sydney teen Lily Hooper was found dead after an extensive eight‑day search in New South Wales’ Nattai National Park.

Eighteen‑year‑old Lily Hooper vanished on August 12 while hiking in Nattai National Park. Her car was discovered at the trail’s base, but she did not return. An intensive search involving police, the Rural Fire Service, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Australian Defence Force finally uncovered her body in the Southern Highlands. Premier Chris Minns first mistakenly announced her being found alive before correcting the death claim. The tragedy underscores the dangers of bushwalking and the importance of search‑rescue coordination.

18-Year-Old Lily Hooper Found Dead After Eight-Day Search in Australian Bush

The body of a woman has been found in Australian bushland after an eight‑day search for a Sydney teenager reported missing last Wednesday.

According to the police, the deceased is believed to be 18‑year‑old Lily Hooper, an assertion confirmed by local media reporting her death. The confusion began when New South Wales Premier Chris Minns noted that she was found alive, later corrected to state that the body had been found.

Hooper left her home in Sydney on 12 August to walk a trail in Nattai National Park. She failed to return by 10 p.m., and her family reported her missing that night. Her vehicle was located in a car park at the bottom of a challenging trail.

The bodies were found in the Southern Highlands at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. A multi‑agency search operation involved NSW Police units, PolAir, the Rescue Unit, the Trail Bike Unit, the Mounted Unit, the Dog Unit, the Rural Fire Service, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and nearly 100 members of the Australian Defence Force.

Premier Chris Minns said, “This is obviously devastating, and I'm profoundly sad for her family and all those concerned.” He apologized to the committee for the earlier confusion.

Hooper was last seen wearing a green singlet, and her body was found in a remote section of the park. The incident highlights the importance of preparedness and safety measures for bushwalkers across Australia.