The search for Australian teenager Lily Hooper, who went missing on August 12, has led to the discovery of a woman’s body. The search lasted eight days before this development. New South Wales Police reported finding the body during their efforts to locate a missing bushwalker in the Southern Highlands.

The body has not yet been formally identified, but officers suspect it belongs to the missing 18-year-old. Initially, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced to state parliament that Hooper was found alive; however, he later retracted this statement.

Local media sources revealed that Hooper’s family was mistakenly informed of her being alive. Mal Lanyon, the New South Wales police commissioner, expressed his sincere apologies for the error. He acknowledged the impact of this misinformation, stating, “That miscommunication, I apologize for any additional trauma that may have caused Lily’s family, but certainly for the embarrassment and confusion that caused.”

An investigation will be conducted into the inter-agency miscommunication that led to this error. Hooper had left her home in Sydney for a hike in a nearby national park and was reported missing after failing to return that night.

The Hooper family issued a statement earlier in the week, expressing their devastation over Lily’s disappearance. They requested privacy and understanding as they deal with this difficult situation.

This situation is still developing, and further updates are expected.