Father’s emotional plea as search for Sydney teenager continues

The father of an experienced teenage hiker missing in dense Southern Highlands bushland has made an impassioned plea for support, as rescuers searching for his daughter for a sixth day remain hopeful she is alive.

Lily Hooper, 18, was last seen leaving her Oakdale home in Sydney’s south-west to go on a hike through the Nattai National Park at 8am on Wednesday, remaining in contact with family through the morning. Her family raised the alarm after she failed to return by 10pm that night, with police finding her car at the start of the challenging Bonnum Pic trail an hour later.

Hooper’s father called into 2SM radio on Monday morning, surprising host Tim Webster as he took calls from his breakfast show audience.

“I just wanted to ring up, I’m very upset, I just want everyone in the 2SM family to cross their fingers, project energy and love, we’re going to find her today,” he said, choking back tears as he spoke.

“I just want everyone to throw love and energy because we’ve got to go and find her, got to go find this kid … she’s got to be in there somewhere mate.”

The man, who didn’t provide his name, chose to “bite the bullet” after days of silence on the matter, which has drawn significant media attention as the search continues.

“I just want everyone out there to cross their fingers and find her today mate because it’s getting too long.”

Search crews from NSW Police, Ambulance, Fire and Rescue and the SES are combing through the national park as they look for Hooper, while family and friends also assist the operation. Drones and helicopters have been scouring the national park from the sky.

NSW Police Chief Inspector Brendan Bernie said Hooper is an experienced bushwalker and rescuers are remaining hopeful.

“We’re relying on her experience to get her through this ordeal, and we are still hoping that she will be found alive and safe,” Bernie said.

“We’re treating it definitely as a search and rescue operation, and we suspect that Lily is out somewhere in this bushland nearby, and we’re doing our very best to locate her.”

The Bujutsu Martial Arts and Fitness Centre in Smeaton Grange, where Hooper trains in Muay Thai and mixed martial arts, shared a plea on social media describing her as a keen and experienced hiker.

“If anyone can survive a hiking accident, it’s Lily. She is one tough girl,” the post said.

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