Tributes are being paid to 18-year-old hiker Lily Hooper, whose body was discovered in the New South Wales Southern Highlands after an eight-day search.<\/p>\n
Hooper was last seen leaving her Oakdale home at 8am on August 12 for a planned hike in Nattai National Park. Her family reported her missing
\n when she failed to return by 10pm.<\/p>\n
Her car was later found near the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail, prompting a major search involving nearly 100 Australian Defence Force personnel, trail bikes, horses, dogs and helicopters.<\/p>\n
Crews searched terrain marked by steep ravines and thick bush before finding Hooper\u2019s body about 11.30am yesterday.<\/p>\n
Messages of condolence have since emerged from across the community, where Hooper was known as an experienced bushwalker and active member of several groups.<\/p>\n
Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould said the Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre and Wollondilly Shire Library had been illuminated in purple and flags at the council chambers lowered to half-mast.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are small gestures, but I hope they will show in some way just how deeply Lily\u2019s loss is being felt across our community,\u201d he wrote on Facebook.<\/p>\n
Bujutsu Martial Arts and Fitness Centre, where Hooper trained regularly, remembered her as a talented and determined martial artist.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was a talented and tough martial artist, but despite that toughness, Lily was such a lovely person,\u201d the club said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe earned the respect, trust and friendship of everyone who had the privilege of training alongside her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hooper had been only months away from earning her blue belt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will really miss her smile, her conversations and the moments we shared on the mat,\u201d sensei Mark Szalajko said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon apologised after a communication error led Hooper\u2019s family to believe she had been found alive.<\/p>\n
The mistake resulted in about 10 minutes of confusion before the correct information was relayed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a parent, I can\u2019t conceive the unimaginable grief they are going through,\u201d Lanyon said, addressing the media on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n