Australian Police Apologize After Family Mistakenly Told Missing Teen Hiker Was Alive

The body of 18 year old Lily Hooper was found in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales on Thursday, ending an eight day search that began after she went missing on August 12. Hooper had left her home in Sydney to go for a solo hike in Nattai National Park, where her car was later discovered at the bottom of a challenging trail. A multi agency search operation involved the NSW Police Force, the Rural Fire Service, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and nearly 100 members of the Australian Defence Force.

Following the discovery, a significant communication error occurred. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told a parliamentary hearing that Hooper had been found alive, a statement he retracted minutes later to confirm she was deceased. Police officials stated that the family was also mistakenly informed she was alive, leading to a period of celebration at the search site before the correction was made. Assistant Police Commissioner Joseph Cassar noted there was a gap of eight to ten minutes before the parents received an updated report on her condition.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon issued an unreserved apology for the miscommunication, which he attributed to the elation of finding the hiker. A coroner will investigate the cause of death, and an investigation into how the miscommunication occurred is underway. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Angus Taylor both expressed condolences, with Taylor stating that the incorrect reports made the family's loss worse.