Lily Hooper’s family was told she’d been found alive. ‘She’s coming home,’ her father said – then tears of joy turned to grief

After eight days missing in the rugged NSW bush, word came through that the 18-year-old had been located. Her family were waiting with presents Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The rugged landscape of the New South Wales southern highlands loomed large on Thursday evening. This country had just revived, then killed hope. A young woman was found “alive”, but then it was confirmed she was dead: desperation, confusion, tragedy reigned. Here, where the bitumen of Wombeyan Caves Road runs into unsealed dirt, rolling hills dotted with cattle give way to expansive mountains. The late-afternoon sun sends long, beaming rays past the edges of clouds, casting a warm glow on distant cliff faces. A few hours earlier, after eight agonising days of searchers scouring the Nattai national park, 90km south-west of Sydney, for the missing 18-year-old hiker Lily Hooper, fears had abruptly turned to joy. Police told her family she had been found alive. Footage from Channel Seven showed the relief and elation. Family and friends embraced, in tears. Her father, Jim Hooper, said “they’re going to get her now by the s