Sorrow as community pays tribute to ‘shining light’ Lily Hooper after NSW hiking tragedy

Published August 22, 2026 · Category: News

Overview

The 18-year-old remembered as a talented athlete with an infectious smile and ‘one of those people who everyone simply liked’

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Tributes have flowed for 18-year-old Lily Hooper, remembered as an adventurous, multitalented athlete with an infectious smile, after her body was found on Thursday afternoon, eight days after she disappeared while hiking in the New South Wales southern highlands.

Details

The teenager was a fixture across local sporting and community groups in the Wollondilly region, training in martial arts, alongside her job as a Sydney BridgeClimb guide.

Source

Originally published at www.theguardian.com.

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