The search for 18-year-old Sydney teenager Lily Hooper has ended tragically after police discovered a woman’s remains in bushland in New South Wales.
Authorities said the deceased had not yet been formally identified, but investigators believe the remains belong to Hooper, who disappeared after leaving her home for a walk in Nattai National Park on 12 August.
Her relatives contacted police later that evening when she failed to return by 10pm.
Her vehicle was subsequently located at a parking area near the base of a difficult walking route.
The remains were located in thick vegetation in the Southern Highlands at about 11:30am on Thursday, according to police.
Officers said recovering the body would probably require personnel to carry it out of the area by hand.
The discovery followed an extensive operation involving several NSW Police teams, including the aviation, rescue, trail-bike, mounted and canine units.
The Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service and nearly 100 Australian Defence Force personnel also assisted.
The case was further complicated by an erroneous announcement from New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who initially informed parliament that Hooper had been located alive.
Minns subsequently withdrew the claim and confirmed that the teenager had died.
He described the development as heartbreaking and expressed his sympathy to her relatives before apologising for the mistake.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon also issued an “unreserved” apology over the communication failure.
Assistant Police Commissioner Joseph Cassar said there was an estimated eight-to-10-minute interval before Hooper’s parents received updated information about their daughter’s condition.
He said he was unable to establish precisely what had been communicated to the family.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the teenager in parliament, describing her death as an “unspeakable tragedy” and saying her loss would be deeply felt.
Angus Taylor, Hooper’s local member of parliament and opposition leader, said the premature report that she had survived had added further anguish to an already devastating situation for her family.
The circumstances surrounding her death are expected to be examined as authorities continue their investigations.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong