Family of missing 18-year-old hiker ‘absolutely devastated’ as search continues in rugged NSW terrain

Lily Hooper has not been seen since leaving for a hike in Nattai national park, south-west of Sydney, on 12 August Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The family of missing 18-year-old bushwalker Lily Hooper say they are “absolutely devastated” that she has not been found after a multi-agency search. On Tuesday, search efforts for the teenager continued through the dense tree canopy and rugged terrain of Nattai national park, about 90km south-west of Sydney, for a seventh day. “Our family is absolutely devastated that our beloved daughter Lily is missing,” the family said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon. “We desperately want to bring Lily home safe and we ask as the search continues, to keep our family and Lily in your thoughts.” Hooper left her Sydney home on Wednesday 12 August for a hike. Initial police inquiries indicate she reached the summit of Bonnum Pic mountain mid-morning on Wednesday, having sent messages from the trail earlier that day. She was reported missing when she did not return home that evening. Her car was located by emergency services near the trail head on Wanganderry Road at High Range at 11pm on Wednesday. As of Tuesd