Ha-unting Lily Hooper Update: 200 Join Desperate Hunt as Army Is Called In After Seven Days
The military has been called in to help the search for missing 18-year-old Lily Hooper, one week after she disappeared after setting out for a hike in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Close to 100 Australian Defence Force personnel joined the search on Wednesday morning, doubling the massive rescue effort to 200 boots on the ground.
Lily Hooper, 18, was last seen leaving a home on Burragorang Road at Oakdale in Sydney’s south-west. NSW Police
Lily was last seen leaving her home on Burragorang Road in Oakdale about 8am last Wednesday to go hiking.
When she hadn’t returned home by 10pm, her family reported her missing.
Her car was found about an hour later on Wanganderry Road at High Range, near the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail in Nattai National Park.
Police have been told Lily is an experienced hiker.
The mammoth search operation continued throughout the week involving specialist police units, emergency services, volunteers and aircraft.
Crews have spent days combing the rugged national park, including cliffs, deep gorges and creeks, while battling freezing overnight conditions, heavy fog and strong winds.
Lily’s family on Tuesday said they were “absolutely devastated” by her disappearance and thanked emergency services and volunteers.
“Our family is absolutely devastated that our beloved daughter Lily is missing,” the family said.
“We would like to thank all the emergency services and volunteers for their support and continued commitment to the search, not only during the day but throughout the night.
“We desperately want to bring Lily home safe, and we ask, as the search continues, to keep our family and Lily in your thoughts.
Crews have spent days combing the rugged national park. 9News
“We also ask for privacy and understanding as our family navigates this unimaginable situation.”
Lily’s dad, Jim Hooper, joined search crews on the ground after issuing a tearful talkback radio appeal earlier this week.
“I’m very upset … I just want everyone to throw love and energy, because we’ve got to go and find her,” he told 2SM Radio.
“Normally they’d find something… I mean, she’s a tough kid, she’s a tough girl, that’s why I can’t understand why she didn’t come out.
“It is a very rough terrain down there… it is very cold.”
Lily is about 175cm tall, with a slim build, long blonde hair, and blue eyes.
She was last seen wearing a shirt and shorts.
Anyone who saw Lily, has information about her whereabouts, or walked the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail on August 12, is urged to contact Moss Vale Police Station or Crime Stoppers.
