Lily Hooper’s family was told she’d been found alive. ‘She’s coming home,’ her father said – then tears of joy turned to grief

After eight days missing in the rugged NSW bush, word came through that the 18-year-old had been located.

Her family were waiting with presents

The rugged landscape of the NSW southern highlands loomed large on Thursday evening.

This country had just revived, then killed hope.

A young woman was found “alive”, then dead: desperation, confusion, tragedy reigned.

Here, where the bitumen of Wombeyan Caves road runs into unsealed dirt, rolling hills dotted with cattle give way to expansive mountains.

The late-afternoon sun sends long, beaming rays past the edges of clouds, casting a warm glow on distant cliff faces.