The body of a woman has been found after an eight-day search for Australian teenager Lily Hooper, who was reported missing on August 12. New South Wales Police said in a statement that the body was discovered during the search for a missing bushwalker in the Southern Highlands. While formal identification has not yet been completed, officers believe it is that of the 18-year-old.
The announcement came after New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told state parliament that Hooper had been found alive, before retracting that statement. Reports from local media indicate that her family had been informed that Hooper was alive. Mal Lanyon, the New South Wales police commissioner, told reporters that he apologized “unreservedly” for the error.
An investigation is set to be launched into the inter-agency miscommunication. Hooper left her Sydney home for a hike in a nearby national park on August 12 and was reported missing that night after failing to return home. The Hooper family said in a statement earlier this week that they are “absolutely devastated that our beloved daughter Lily is missing.” They asked for privacy and understanding as the family “navigates this unimaginable situation.” This is a developing story.
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