Missing 18-year-old hiker Lily Hooper has been found dead after going missing eight days ago in the Southern Highlands.

She was last seen leaving her home in Oakdale, south-west of Sydney, early Wednesday morning, before the alarm was raised after she didn’t return home.

The news comes after early reports indicated she had been found alive, with Premier Chris Minns making the tragic announcement in a budget estimates meeting just moments ago.

In a statement, NSW Police confirmed the devastating news.

“A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner”.

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Image: New South Wales Police