From ‘elation’ to ‘terrible news’ in 10 minutes: how the confusion over missing bushwalker Lily Hooper unfolded

<p>The 18-year-old’s body was found in Nattai national park on Thursday – but initial police messages indicated she was alive</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/20/lily-hooper-missing-hiker-found-dead-nsw-national-park">Teen hiker Lily Hooper found dead as NSW police apologise for miscommunication ‘born of elation’</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Police have blamed dense bushland and radio confusion for wrongly reporting to 18-year-old Lily Hooper’s parents, the New South Wales premier and the media that the missing bushwalker had been found alive.</p><p>Hooper had last been seen on 12 August after leaving home for a hike in the rugged bushland of Nattai national park, 90km south-west of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/sydney">Sydney</a>. She was reported missing that night, triggering a multi-agency search involving nearly 1,000 people, including hundreds of volunteers.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/20/from-elation-to-terrible-news-in-10-minutes-how-the-confusion-over-missing-bushwalker-lily-hooper-unfolded">Continue reading...</a>