Australian police recover body of missing teenage hiker near Sydney

Sydney police have recovered the body of an 18-year-old hiker, more than a week after she vanished, according to authorities on Friday (Aug 21). The body was airlifted from a remote national park near Sydney, where the teenager went hiking on Aug 12 but failed to return, as reported by multiple Australian media outlets. Lily Hooper, the missing hiker, was found in Nattai National Park, approximately 100km southwest of Sydney.

The recovery mission, which included police, emergency crews, and Australian Defence Force personnel, faced challenges due to the park's rough terrain. Hooper's vehicle was discovered at the entrance of a challenging 16km trail meant for experienced hikers, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns expressed regret on Thursday for initially claiming Hooper was found alive, stating that officials are investigating whether a police code miscommunication led to the error.

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon provided a full apology, expressing remorse for causing any additional distress to Hooper's family.