A candlelight vigil has been held for 18-year-old Lily Hooper as her loved ones and community grapple with the devastating loss.

The Oakdale teen was found dead in an isolated part of Nattai National Park on Thursday, more than a week after she failed to return home from a solo hike.

The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of grief across the nation and shattered the young woman’s local community.

“Beautiful Lily, may your soul rest peacefully … May your family find solace and comfort in knowing that you passed from this world doing what you loved to do and being with nature – you certainly touched the hearts of our Camden & Wollondilly communities,” one resident wrote on social media.

“Lily, you will always be remembered for the love and joy you brought to our community, your memory will live on in our hearts and minds,” another said.

Members of her community turned out to a candlelight vigil in Willis Park on Friday evening, barely 24 hours after learning of the devastating loss.

“A community coming together to support the Hooper family through this devastating time. Rest easy, fly high and shine bright Lily,” one commenter wrote on social media following the event.

Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould said the plans had been made as a way to “show love and support” for her grieving family.

“Hundreds and hundreds of candles, lights and flowers now fill Willis Park in memory of Lily,” Mr Gould wrote on social media.

“The community memorial will remain open all weekend and anyone who would like to visit, leave some flowers or add a light for Lily is welcome to come down at any time.”

Ms Hooper’s alma mater Campbelltown Performing Arts High School shared a message to their community remembering the 18-year-old, who graduated less than 12 months ago.

“Lily will be remembered by our school as a kind, humorous and respectful young woman who lit up every room with her infectious smile, positive energy and determination to live life to its fullest,” the school’s statement read.

“She was, and will always remain, a deeply valued member of our school community.

“May Lily’s light continue to live on in all of us who were fortunate enough to know her.”

Classmates, teachers and school community members also paid tribute.

“Oh Lily you sweet darling, we are going to miss you dearly. You will always be part of our school and deep in our hearts,” one commenter wrote.

“I hope I inspired you even a fraction as much as you’ve inspired me. I am so proud of the woman you became and will always remember your light.

“You are so loved my musical angel.”

“May your light always shine bright beautiful Lily,” another said.

Among the outpouring of grief and support for Ms Hooper’s family was a fundraiser organised by Wollondilly’s rotary club.

The campaign, it has been announced, has already exceeded $16,500.

Lily’s family holds ‘no anger’

Jim Hooper, Ms Hooper’s father, responded to the heartbreaking communication breakdown following the discovery of her body earlier this week.

Coded messages between emergency agencies led to Ms Hooper’s family believing, for eight jubilant minutes, that she had been found alive.

The miscommunication widely spread, even reaching NSW Premier Chris Minns, who announced it to parliament.

But elation soon turned to deflation after the code was relayed and the tragic reality became clear – Ms Hooper had died.

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has since apologised for the miscommunication.

7News reported Mr Hooper issued a statement saying he holds “no anger” following the mix-up.

The grieving father said he remained grateful for the lengths that rescue parties, including NSW Police and volunteers from the SES, went to try and recover his daughter.

‘Profoundly sorry’

Earlier on Friday, NSW Premier Chris Minns offered apologies for his role in the spread of false news that she had been found alive and well.

And NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon blamed “challenging” communication conditions for the mistaken news.

She was found dead in an isolated part of the NSW Southern Highlands shortly before midday on Thursday, with police confirming on Friday morning her body had been recovered overnight.

But a communication error led NSW Premier Chris Minns and others to declare she had been found alive.

“I wish we could go back and that wasn’t the case, but we’ll certainly learn from it and get better,” he said.

“Can I say from time to time, particularly when we are searching in remote locations, communication can be challenging.”

Both Mr Lanyon and Mr Minns acknowledged the grief the Hooper family were experiencing in the aftermath of such an “unfortunate” ordeal.

“I can only imagine, as a parent, what Lily’s parents are going through in our deepest sympathies are with her family,” Mr Lanyon said.

“We will continue to work closely with the family.”

A “profoundly sorry” Mr Minns said he would personally apologise to the family of the young hiker after mistakenly sharing news the 18-year-old had been found alive.

“I’m absolutely devastated and profoundly sorry that anything I said may have added to the grief that family has gone through,” Mr Minns said on Friday.

“I’m profoundly sorry that happened, and I know the Police Commissioner and myself, the government, will do everything we can to ensure that there are strong protocols in place when it comes to informing government agencies, the family, and the media about the latest up to date, accurate information.”

The communication error led to several media outlets prematurely publishing articles, bulletins and blog posts revealing the teen had been found alive as well as Mr Minns announcing the “fantastic news” in the middle of a lengthy budget estimates hearing on Thursday.

“We’ve got some fantastic news, Mr chair. Lily Hooper has been found alive,” Mr Minns said.

Minutes later, the Premier received another note with a grim update.

“I’ve got some terrible news, and I apologise to the committee but it seems as if the early advice was wrong, and Lily’s body has been found … she’s been found deceased,” he said.

During a press conference after the incident, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Joseph Cassar said Ms Hooper’s body was found a significant distance from where her car had been parked.

“I cannot give you the exact distance but I can tell you that it was not on a clear, walkable track,” he said.

“That will form part of the brief for the coroner, but it was some significant distance away from where the vehicle was parked.”

Later on Thursday, Mr Lanyon offered his “unashamed” apology to Ms Hooper’s family, blaming the error on a “miscommunication” between those who discovered her body and those tasked with relaying information further up the pipeline.

“As a parent, I can’t conceive the unimaginable grief they are going through,” he said.

“Sadly, this morning there was a miscommunication when Lily’s body was found.

“I unashamedly apologise for any additional trauma that may have caused Lily’s family, and certainly for the embarrassment and confusion that caused.”

Ms Hooper, an experienced hiker, was first reported missing late on August 12 after she failed to return to her home in southwestern Sydney from a planned hike along the Bonnum Pic hiking trail in Nattai National Park.

Stretching more than 17km through dense scrub and up along a vast, sweeping plateau, the Bonnum Pic trail is described as a barely visible, densely overgrown and difficult to navigate path.

Ms Hooper’s cause of death is yet to be confirmed.