Preliminary findings indicate Lily Hooper died soon after hiking fall
Lily Hooper’s family say preliminary findings suggest the 18-year-old died shortly after falling while hiking in Nattai National Park on the day she disappeared. Her mother said this gave the family some comfort because it indicated Lily did not endure days alone in cold conditions, while her father described the loss as devastating.
Hooper went missing on 12 August after failing to return from the Bonnum Pic Trail, around 90 kilometres south-west of Sydney, and her body was found in dense bushland eight days later. Nearly 1,000 people, including hundreds of volunteers, took part in the search; the family has thanked those involved and called for clearer signs and a wider trail to improve hiker safety.
- Preliminary reports indicate Lily Hooper died after a fall on 12 August.
- Her body was found eight days later after a major search.
- Her family wants safety improvements on the national park trail.
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Nattai National Park is a large area of bushland south-west of Sydney, with walking tracks that can be remote and difficult to navigate. Hikers can face steep ground, dense vegetation and changing weather, which can make searches challenging when someone does not return as expected.
Lily Hooper was an 18-year-old who set out on the Bonnum Pic Trail and was later reported missing. Police, emergency services and volunteers searched the park for more than a week before finding her body.
The case has drawn attention to safety on remote walking tracks, including how clearly routes are marked and whether paths are suitable for the people using them. Her family’s comments about signs and trail access reflect wider questions about reducing risks for hikers and helping rescuers reach remote areas quickly.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Lily Hooper’s family reveal new details of the teenager’s final moments after she fell while hiking”.