Lily Hooper death: Mother reveals hiker died the day she went missing, was found ‘lying peacefully’

The family of 18-year-old hiker Lily Hooper, who went missing in New South Wales, confirmed she died from a fall on the day she disappeared. Authorities are investigating a communication error that briefly led the family to believe she had been found alive.
Why it matters
The case highlights the tragic risks of wilderness hiking and the importance of accurate communication during search and rescue operations.
Lily Hooper, the 18-year-old hiker found dead after more than a week missing in the bush in New South Wales, Australia, died on the day she failed to return home, her family have said.
Her mother also revealed that she was found by a State Emergency Service (SES) volunteer, “lying peacefully in dense bushland”.
It is believed that the teenager had a fall and died on the same afternoon she went missing.
“Preliminary reports have said Lily had a fall, she had an accident that first afternoon, she died the day she went missing and was found lying peacefully in dense bushland,” the grieving mum, Kerrily Hooper, told the Daily Telegraph in Australia.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in