News
20 August, 2026
Police hold media conference as body believed to be that of 18-year-old bushwalker Lily Hooper found
Video below of the press conference. At approximately 11:30am this morning (Thursday 20 August), a body was found in the Nattai National Park, believed to be that of missing bushwalker, 18 year old Lily Hooper, who went missing last Wednesday (12 August).
At approximately 11:30am this morning (Thursday 20 August), a body was found in the Nattai National Park, believed to be that of missing bushwalker, 18 year old Lily Hooper, who went missing last Wednesday (12 August).
The Southern Wire attended a press conference at Southern Highlands Police Station in Moss Vale earlier this afternoon with NSW Police Southern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar APM and SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone.
Assistant Commissioner Cassar told the media that investigations are continuing, and that a report has been prepared for the coroner.
Ms. Hooper left her home at Oakdale last Wednesday morning and drove to set off on a bushwalk to Bonnum Pic, a steep and rocky outcrop overlooking the Burragorang Valley towards Lake Burragorang, approximately 60kms north west of Mittagong last Wednesday morning.
She notified her parents of her progress on the walk, however they eventually lost contact with her, and it was later that night on the Wanganderry Road at High Range approximately 11pm that her Hyundai car was found parked, and she hadn't returned to it.
This led over 100 Police, RFS, SES, Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA rescue) and even Australian Defence Force crews on an intensive ground and air search over eight days to find her.
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