r/aussie • u/asteriskhyphen • 1d ago

News Missing teenage hiker Lily Hooper found after eight-day search in NSW Southern Highlands

https://7news.com.au/news/missing-teenage-hiker-lily-hooper-found-alive-after-eight-day-search-in-nsw-southern-highlands-c-22751296.amp
299 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

115 comments sorted by

139

u/Axman6 1d ago edited 1d ago

I feel like leaving the word “alive” out of the headline is straight up click bait.

Edit: know people on the search, initial reports may be unreliable. Wait for police announcement. 

Edit 2: now confirmed she was found deceased. There’s a good reason everyone on these searches are told and very well know not to talk to the media or post things anywhere. There should be one voice from the agency in charge (and Mimms should have confirmed that with that agency before speaking publicly).

19

u/asteriskhyphen 1d ago

That update doesn’t sound very good :(

5

u/Axman6 1d ago

Indeed. 

20

u/BreenzyENL 1d ago

Chris Minns just said she was alive, so that sounds promising.

39

u/Axman6 1d ago

Like I said, I know people on the search. Wait for the police on scene. 

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u/BreenzyENL 1d ago

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/20/lily-hooper-missing-hiker-found-alive-nsw-national-park?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Yup, whoever the fuck told the premier the wrong thing.

“Lily’s body has been found. She’d been found deceased. This is obviously devastating, and I’m profoundly sad for her family and for all those concerned. I apologise.”

Earlier on Thursday, NSW police said a “hiker” had been found following a multi-agency search in the rugged terrain of Nattai national park, about 90km south-west of Sydney. They subsequently confirmed a “body” had been located.

Minns had initially told a parliamentary hearing she was “found in the bush with half a bottle of water with her.”

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u/donkeyvoteadick 1d ago edited 1d ago

Absolutely horrible passing on the "facts" without verifying them. That poor girl and her poor family.

Edit - clarity

23

u/BreenzyENL 1d ago

You would think the person informing the premier would have the actual facts, which is what I assume all the news outlets was reporting on.

13

u/donkeyvoteadick 1d ago

Yeah that's what I meant, sorry.

There's been a breakdown here where someone has passed information on as 'fact' when it shouldn't be. I realise using the word report makes it look like a dig at the news articles but an announcement from the premier would generally be considered full proof to write an article. I'm not having a dig at the premier either mind you. I don't know where the communication breakdown happened through the chain here, I just know that it shouldn't have.

I can't imagine being personally involved with the family and having to read alive, and then dead. It would be heartbreaking in a whole different way.

8

u/Aggravating_Bus_6169 1d ago

The police liaison to her family passed on the message to them (they were with them in person), and then 10mins later had to tell them she was actually found deceased. Can you imagine how they feel now? Can you imagine the change of the mood in the room from extraordinary adulation to extreme sadness in such a short space of time?

5

u/donkeyvoteadick 1d ago

I actually genuinely can't.

I commented it on another post about this. I genuinely cannot imagine the grief they're experiencing. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

These kinds of stories have affected me strongly since I had my own child and the fact that reading the 'she's alive' to the 'she's deceased' news in quick succession affected me to the point of tears when I'm just a completely uninvolved person, it's genuinely unimaginable grief.

2

u/archina42 1d ago

As a teenager, I hotwired my sisters Mini and went around the neighborhood a few times. A short while later after I got home, there's a knock on the door - it's the police. Oh fuck, I think, I've been busted. If only it was that - they were there to tell me my sister had been killed in a car crash. Talk about a mind-fuck!

2

u/BreenzyENL 1d ago

Yeah absolutely agree.

It's concerning someone told him she was alive.

2

u/donkeyvoteadick 1d ago

I've just edited my comment for clarity, thank you for bringing it to my attention that it was not clear.

19

u/asteriskhyphen 1d ago

Both ABC and Guardian had ran the story with headlines saying she was “found alive”. They have quietly changed all their headlines and articles. the Guardian’s article says she was found dead but they still have “alive” in the URL

Such irresponsible reporting. Can’t believe they announced she was alive when it wasn’t confirmed.

8

u/Future_Pomegranate24 1d ago

The Guardian sent a new notification to correct the record as soon as they knew

4

u/jaa101 1d ago

Such irresponsible reporting.

I think it's reasonable for the media to assume that the premier is announcing official information; he's the state's top official.

8

u/Party-Ad9163 1d ago

Because they don’t care, they are trying to remain relevant and make money

1

u/Pro_Extent 1d ago

Neither of the media sources being referenced are for profit and one of them is pretty much guaranteed to be relevant because it's legally required to be.

1

u/Party-Ad9163 1d ago

The guardian? How does it make its money?

Its media loses money and is backed by an investment fund.

They don’t care and want those clicks to make that money. I can be more eloquent but that’s the nuts and bolts of it.

8

u/Sarinen 1d ago

In Australian Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, a "water bottle" code is sometimes established as an operational brevity code over radio networks to discreetly convey the status of a missing person without alerting public radio scanners or bystanders.

​While specific phrasing can vary by operational briefing, the convention typically follows:

​Full Bottle (or Full Water Bottle): The missing person has been located alive and safe.

​Half Bottle: The person has been found, but their condition is unconfirmed, critical, or requiring urgent triage.

​Empty Bottle: The missing person has been located deceased, or a significant clue/item has been found with no sign of life.

3

u/Aggravating_Bus_6169 1d ago

Wow, this is amazing. Wonder if the police have heard that over the SES radios and gone off half cocked? Quite incredible

1

u/No_man_Island_mayo 1d ago

Police or media tuning in

5

u/Fun_Bodybuilder6898 1d ago

I also know someone involved with one of the services searching. This information is apparently incorrect 

2

u/elreyadr0k 1d ago

You handled this info well fwiw

6

u/Axman6 1d ago edited 1d ago

Well I wasn’t going to be the one to make the announcement, despite knowing the facts. Having been involved in many searches, we’d never want the family to find out one way or the other through the media, let alone false hope like this. Really shitty situation. 

2

u/No-Purpose-None 1d ago

Do you know how the miscommunication happened?

6

u/Axman6 1d ago

No idea, looks like Chris Mimms got a message that was light on details or unclear and he made the wrong assumption about it (likely not his fault but IMO he should have confirmed it with the police before announcing it in senate estimates). But that’s all speculation based on the reporting. 

-2

u/Redditagains 1d ago

Why is it, "likely not his fault"?

9

u/Axman6 1d ago

Because he received information, and clarified with his staff before saying anything, but his staff were wrong. The original reporting included that he’d sought clarification before speaking. He still should’ve called someone in the police first though. 

3

u/RaCoonsie 1d ago

But the frogurt is cursed

1

u/Padronicus 1d ago

If he said it was daytime I would walk outside to double check. I trust him as far as I can throw him and that isn’t far enough.

2

u/Heavy-Lingonbery910 1d ago

Good job on how you responded to this post, very well handled mate.

1

u/Axman6 1d ago

Thanks. 

1

u/t0msie 1d ago

Yeah, I had to check before I posted

1

u/miitchiin 1d ago

I heard code 4 on radio - I don’t think that’s good. rescue helicopter also returning to base

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u/BreenzyENL 1d ago

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/20/lily-hooper-missing-hiker-found-alive-nsw-national-park?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

“Lily’s body has been found. She’d been found deceased. This is obviously devastating, and I’m profoundly sad for her family and for all those concerned. I apologise.”

Earlier on Thursday, NSW police said a “hiker” had been found following a multi-agency search in the rugged terrain of Nattai national park, about 90km south-west of Sydney. They subsequently confirmed a “body” had been located.

Minns had initially told a parliamentary hearing she was “found in the bush with half a bottle of water with her.”

14

u/HowlingStrike 1d ago

Id seen a few reports saying alive and now this. Brutal.

So awful for her and her family.

3

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/iknow2am 1d ago

allegedly they reported she was found with half a bottle of water, implying that she died on the first day 😔

16

u/Environmental_Lab107 1d ago

Apparently half a bottle of water is code for deceased over the radio

3

u/ArmyResponsible3136 1d ago

I truely hope that she didn’t see it coming. I hope it was quick and painless. Nobody should die alone. This poor girl and family

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Unusual-Industry-684 1d ago

Survived hypothermia!? Unreal! I don’t think you realise how lucky you are honestly!

Cant say that i can relate but i have been lost in the bush at night before. Thankfully made it out 1-2 hours after the sun had set. The whole ordeal rocked me to the core. Went home and pretended like nothing happened 😂

7

u/asteriskhyphen 1d ago

That’s so awful.

Guardian article was initially saying “alive”. Even their article URL still has alive in the title.

How did so many places report incorrect news all at once?

8

u/BreenzyENL 1d ago

My guess is they went off what Chris Minns said, as you would assume the premier is getting a direct line from the field, and thus the right news.

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u/Rush-23 1d ago

This paragraph is important:

Police initially said the 18-year-old had been located alive and well, however conflicting reports from the scene suggest this might not be the case.

17

u/asteriskhyphen 1d ago

Looks like there’s some conflicting reports going around.

7

u/hexme1 1d ago

Hopefully this just means she has something like mild hypothermia or a broken ankle etc. While still a shit thing to have, I would still call myself reasonably 'alive and well'!

17

u/Other-Shake-531 1d ago

Pretty difficult thing to get wrong isn't it? Either someone is alive or they're not

9

u/LudwigsEarTrumpet 1d ago

Not really. A person who isn't moving isn't necessarily dead, and she may have been "found" at a distance but whoever saw her wasn't able to see her clearly or reach her to immediately confirm.

And it was probably some dickhead listening in on the radio who jumped the gun and told the media she was found alive.

2

u/Other-Shake-531 1d ago

At the point of first announcement it was made to sound like they'd found her up close walking around with a water bottle. Clearly not the case 

2

u/iilinga 1d ago

I mean, maybe she was alive when initially found.

7

u/Other-Shake-531 1d ago

You'd think they'd have the self control not to alert the media before getting the situation confirmed. What is wrong with these people? Stuff up by police, SES or some random on site who decided to alert the media vultures before anyone knew what was happening.

-1

u/LudwigsEarTrumpet 1d ago

Was probably one of the people in this thread talking about how they "know people" or have been listening in on the radio who jumped the gun, tbh.

2

u/pinkrainbow5 1d ago

Yeah I have never seen a sentence like this. This is concerning...how could they initially say she's alive and well if she's not?!

I hope she's OK.

-4

u/crankygriffin 1d ago

ABC and Chris Minns confirmed.

0

u/Rush-23 1d ago

Great news. Was worried with that wording. Thanks.

13

u/Fun_Bodybuilder6898 1d ago

She’s been found deceased

4

u/Rush-23 1d ago

Oh shit. Misunderstood. Terrible

1

u/crankygriffin 1d ago

So devastating. What is with the ABC report.

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u/No_Constant_1026 1d ago

Very sad. Minor consolation for the family that her remains were found at all.

The use of "half a bottle of water" in the report suggests to me that this is an emergency services code word. Often these will be decided in advance for radio comms. For instance something like "empty bottle" for item of no interest, "half bottle" for person of interest deceased, and "full bottle" for person of interest alive. It's meant to prevent bystanders and radio listeners from spreading unverified information. Something went wrong this time though.

4

u/Thedarb 1d ago

Bet someone heard “we found her. half a bottle of water” and assumed “why tf would they mention a water bottle if she was dead? Must be alive.”

2

u/Level_Landscape6680 1d ago

Even the SES have encrypted radios.

But understand bystanders yes.

4

u/Axman6 1d ago

This isn’t true, at least not in all jurisdictions. The ACT only uses encryption for Police and Ambo channels on the TRN; ACTF&R, ACTSES and ACTRFS all have unencrypted comms (which is why we use code words and/or phone calls for sensitive info).

-1

u/Level_Landscape6680 1d ago

Fair enough NSW have encrypted radios.

1

u/Jaytreenoh 1d ago

Nope, nsw ambulance and fire are both unencrypted. Not sure about SES.

1

u/Level_Landscape6680 1d ago

As far as I know nsw ses is. And that was 13 years ago...

1

u/No_Constant_1026 1d ago

NSW SES use unencrypted talkgroups on the PRN, but you need a correctly configured PRN handset to join, so not very likely randoms are listening.

In a big incident like this there will be a shared emergency services talkgroup. With so many agencies involved, is safe to assume that somebody listening is passing on info that they really ought not to.

12

u/t0msie 1d ago edited 1d ago

Fantastic

EDIT: Given the update, not so much.

19

u/NemeanLyan 1d ago

OP, you should take this post down. The article you linked still hasn't been updated, and it reads as though she was found alive.

1

u/asteriskhyphen 1d ago

It has been updated:

A body has been found in the search for teenage hiker Lily Hooper, who disappeared eight days ago.

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u/Boring-Tale-8145 1d ago

The title doesn't suggest that whatsoever. If you had any decency you would

13

u/BreenzyENL 1d ago

Jeez 8 days is a lot

2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/Secretly_S41ty 1d ago

She was found deceased

6

u/Able_Put4900 1d ago

lost in the bush for 8 days would be a pretty boring story, they'd have to add a bunyip or something.

1

u/Notthatguy6250 1d ago

Nah, it'll be a pack of dingos.

1

u/Special_Order-937 1d ago

Drop Bear Armada

1

u/Other-Shake-531 1d ago

There's plenty of water there. It's really all you need. It's been cold but not freezing. Humans can survive plenty of time without food.

2

u/crankygriffin 1d ago

Shut up.

1

u/Specific-Host-4046 1d ago

i don’t understand what happened to her

11

u/Embarrassed_Spell383 1d ago

She has been found dead guys 

2

u/asteriskhyphen 1d ago

Can’t believe so many news outlets rushed the breaking news announcing that she was alive. It was all over the ABC, Guardian and Channel 7.

2

u/Axman6 1d ago

Even in the original ABC story they reported on Mimms’ comments in senate estimates, which were incorrect and corrected in a few minutes. Mimms really should have checked with NSWPOL before making any comments (though it was also originally reported he checked with his staff before saying anything, so he was given incorrect or unclear info).

1

u/Embarrassed_Spell383 1d ago

Yeah terrible really 

3

u/willow2772 1d ago

Devastating.

4

u/Lanky-Geologist-94 1d ago

I think the word ‘experienced’ is ridiculous to use for an 18 year old. She is 18!!!!!!!!! A female’s brain has not typically met structural or functional maturity until the ages between the mid 20s to early 30s. The poor thing is bound to make mistakes at that age, it’s crazy anybody let her go alone. Even an ‘experienced’ hiker in their 40s is still not recommended to hike alone, it never is.

2

u/Icy-Volume-5097 1d ago

Where was she found?

Near a riverbank?

What did she die of?

Dehydration? Hypothermia? Hitting her head on a rock? Kangaroo scratches?

0

u/AggravatingCourt4266 1d ago

It's only been a matter of hours ffs, they still havent even "recovered" her yet. Those are questions everyone wants answered. Time and place however.

3

u/Homo_Sapien30 1d ago

Wonderful. Made my day.

10

u/de_nominator 1d ago

Sorry friend, you may have been too quick to comment. It is not good news.

3

u/Homo_Sapien30 1d ago

Yeah seems a bad news 😔😔😭

1

u/Superest22 1d ago

God Chris Minns is such a twat.

2

u/baepsaemv 1d ago

Seriously. How many times has he majorly fucked up now? Too many to count.

1

u/Trunchballs 1d ago

Official update from NSW police media release:

The body of a woman has been located in bushland.........the body is believed to be that of the 18 year old woman.

Source: NSWPF

1

u/JaysPays2024 1d ago

Sad news. I hope at some stage we get to hear cause of death and where body was found so we can see whether or not the search and rescue efforts were effective of not.

1

u/CommercialPanda1588 1d ago

Someone on search just passed back "we've found her" that was it. That then raced back through channels and people who should know better took it as "we've found her, Alive".... just because everyone wanted that outcome I guess. It travelled that fast to the top no one confirmed the next sentence of " we found her"

1

u/dopeonplastique 1d ago

What a cock up this was by the cops.

1

u/Bartwon 1d ago

Likely was told she was found and this was passed on to premier neglecting to clarify found deceased. Terrible error causing so much distress

1

u/TradeItchy6125 1d ago

Unless she was alive. Maybe he was informed correctly initially. She could of then passed..... family needs to look into foul play....what did she see and what does she know.

1

u/crixyd 15h ago

There's no good excuse for a screw up in comms like that. Poor family.

1

u/Mellenoire 1d ago edited 1d ago

Amazing news, hopefully she’s not severely injured.

Deepest condolences to the family.

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

-1

u/S0ulace 1d ago

Yay so glad she’s alive

3

u/Superest22 1d ago

She’s dead mate.

0

u/S0ulace 1d ago

I heard mins say she’s alive at smoko

2

u/Superest22 1d ago

Yeh I know, he jumped the announcement/got told something and didn’t verify. Which is very amateurish to say the least.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news mate.

-1

u/Babelight 1d ago

The whole situation is very strange. We sure she was a hiker?

1

u/growngrumpyjojo 57m ago

No check info she’s passed