Police ‘hopeful’ of finding missing teen hiker alive
The search for a missing teenager in dense Southern Highlands bushland has entered its fourth day as rescue helicopter, drone and ground crews failed to find any sign of the experienced hiker.
Lily Hooper, an 18-year-old from Oakdale in Sydney’s south-west, has been missing since Wednesday when she failed to return home from a hike in the Nattai National Park in the Southern Highlands.
Hooper left her home about 8am on Wednesday and had told family of her bushwalking plans. She had remained in contact over the phone throughout the morning, but at some point during the day she could no longer be contacted.
When she didn’t return from her hike by 10pm she was reported missing. Police found Hooper’s car at the start of the Bonnum Pic trail, a challenging route through dense bushland, at 11pm.
Police believe Hooper reached the summit of Bonnum Pic mid-morning.
NSW Police Detective Inspector Ben Bowles described Hooper as an experienced bushwalker and said there was no evidence of any foul play.
“We’re unaware at this stage of what exact supplies Lily had at the time, but she’s an experienced hiker, and we are still very hopeful that she’ll be found well,” Bowles said on Friday.
He said the area was “fairly rugged” with search crews confronted with extensive and rough bushland.
Hooper’s family has joined in the search by crews from NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW and the SES. Helicopters and drones have been scouring the national park from the skies, and although a search team continued the efforts on Friday night, there was no trace of the missing hiker.
A fresh search team was deployed at 7am on Saturday.
The Bujutsu Martial Arts and Fitness Centre in Smeaton Grange, where Hooper trains in Muay Thai and mixed martial arts, shared a plea on social media describing the girl as a keen and experienced hiker.
“If anyone can survive a hiking accident, it’s Lily. She is one tough girl,” the post said.
On Friday, Hooper’s aunt, Sheridan Munro, said in a social media post that the family was desperate to find the teen.
“Unfortunately and sadly, Lily still hasn’t been located at this stage,” Munro said.
“There are still emergency crews on the ground and in the air searching the dense bushland for her, they have been working around the clock, they have been incredible. Praying.”
Premier Chris Minns said on Friday his thoughts were with the family, and told reporters all resources were being deployed to find Hooper.
“Our heart goes out to that young walker’s family … I’m praying for good news,” he said.
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