Body of hiker Lily Hooper recovered from dense NSW bushland, police say
The body of hiker Lily Hooper has been recovered in New South Wales after an eight-day search. Authorities are investigating a miscommunication regarding a police code that led to incorrect reports that she had been found alive.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the dangers of search and rescue operations in rugged terrain and the importance of accurate communication in emergency management.
Emergency services are investigating whether a miscommunication about a police code may have led to hiker Lily Hooper being incorrectly identified as alive .
A NSW police spokesperson confirmed the body of Hooper was recovered from dense bushland in the NSW Southern Highlands on Thursday night, more than a week after she went missing.
Yesterday, NSW Premier Chris Minns told budget estimates that Hooper had been found "alive" with "half a bottle of water".
Australian media, including the ABC, widely reported this.
He later told the parliamentary hearing that a body had been found.
NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing confirmed on Friday that assigning codes during searches was common practice and Hooper had been assigned a code.
"The codes are usually associated with some aspect like that in terms of bottles of water," he said.
The Nattai National park has dense bushland, deep ravines and high cliffs.
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