The mother of 18-year-old Lily Hooper, who died while bushwalking in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, has shared further details about the heartbreaking search that gripped her family and the wider community.
Lily went missing on August 12 after setting out on a bushwalk in Nattai National Park. An extensive search operation followed, involving emergency services and volunteers working tirelessly to locate her.
After eight days, Lily was found in dense bushland. However, in a devastating turn of events, her family had initially been told she had been located alive before authorities later confirmed that she had died.
Speaking publicly, Lily’s mother, Kirrily Hooper, explained that preliminary findings indicate her daughter suffered a fall on the first day she went missing. According to those early reports, Lily died shortly after the accident.
Her mother said Lily was found lying peacefully, and expressed some comfort in knowing that her daughter likely passed quickly and did not suffer.
Despite the painful miscommunication during the search, the family has said they hold no resentment toward authorities. They acknowledged the enormous effort made by emergency teams, who “threw everything” into trying to find Lily alive.
Officials later explained that the confusion stemmed from internal communication practices used during search operations. The incorrect information spread quickly, even reaching senior government figures before it was corrected.
Authorities have since apologized to the Hooper family for the distress caused by the error, describing it as a deeply regrettable situation.
Lily’s death has left her family and community mourning the loss of a young life, while also reflecting on the beauty of the landscape she had chosen to explore. Her mother noted how striking the area was when they visited during the search, saying she understood why Lily had been drawn to it.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.
About the Author
