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

The 18-year-old’s body was found in Nattai national park on Thursday – but initial police messages indicated she was alive Teen hiker Lily Hooper found dead as NSW police apologise for miscommunication ‘born of elation’ Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast 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. 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 Sydney. She was reported missing that night, triggering a multi-agency search involving nearly 1,000 people, including hundreds of volunteers. Eight days later, on Thursday morning, police media told reporters a “hiker” had been found. At around midday, the premier, Chris Minns, was handed a piece of paper while addressing a parliamentary committee. He asked if it was accurate, to which the secretary of the cabinet office, Kate Boyd, said: “Yes.” The premier, reading the paper, said he had “fantastic news” that Hooper was “found in the bush with ha