Police have found the body of missing teen hiker Lily Hooper in the Southern Highlands in NSW.
Earlier, NSW Premier Chris Minns and several media outlets had reported she was found alive.
However, this was the wrong information, which Minns apologised for in state parliament.
The 18-year-old was first reported missing on Wednesday 12 August after she didn't return home from a day hike.
Disappearance
Lily, an experienced hiker, left her home in Oakdale in Sydney's south-west about 8am on Wednesday 12 August to hike in Nattai National Park.
Lily drove to Bonnum Pic walking trail that day, where she began hiking.
When she hadn't returned home by 10pm, Lily was reported missing, and police began searching immediately.
Search
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At about 11pm on the day she went missing, Lily's car was found parked on Wanganderry Road, near the start of the Bonnum Pic walking trail.
Over the past week, specialist police crews were joined by 200 emergency services personnel, working through dense bush to find Lily.
Statements
In a statement on Thursday, NSW Police said: “The body of a woman has been located in bushland following the search for a missing bushwalker in the Southern Highlands today.“
It added that the body is yet to be formally identified, but it is believed to be that of Lily Hooper.
Earlier on Thursday morning, NSW Premier Chris Minns told NSW Parliament that the teen hiker was found alive – this was consistent with several news outlets at the time.
However, he later clarified that the earlier statement was wrong, and Lily's body had been found.
He said: “I'm profoundly sad for her family and I apologise.”
