MISSING TOURIST MYSTERY: Phone of Belgian Hiker Found in Tasmanian Wilderness – But Where Is Celine Cremer?
- Celine Cremer’s mobile phone discovered by volunteer searcher in north-west Tasmania, sparking hope in five-day search
- 31-year-old Belgian tourist disappeared on June 26, 2023, while bushwalking near Waratah
- Police join renewed search effort, with officers and SES volunteers to scour terrain when weather permits
In a dramatic breakthrough, a volunteer searcher has found the mobile phone of missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer in the Tasmanian wilderness, sparking new hope in the desperate search for the 31-year-old. The phone was discovered on Saturday, and police have now joined the renewed five-day search effort, set to begin when weather conditions allow.
Celine Cremer was reported missing on June 26, 2023, after she failed to return from a bushwalk at Philosopher Falls near Waratah in north-west Tasmania. Despite an initial search, her car was found near the walking track, but no other signs of the missing tourist were found.
In a heartbreaking development, a private investigator and friends of Ms Cremer launched a new search on Saturday, and volunteer Tony Hage found the mauve-coloured Samsung phone within hours. “It’s fair to say hopes are up,” said Inspector Andrew Hanson, but he cautioned that “the stark reality is this is not easy work.”
The phone, which is currently being forensically examined, was found in good condition, despite being damp. Inspector Hanson believes the sun shining on the phone at the right time led to the discovery. The working theory is that Ms Cremer went off track to take a shortcut to the Philosopher Falls car park as it was getting dark, and accidentally lost or dropped her phone.
“She’s reached a high point on a hill where the phone has spoken to the satellites and we’re able to retrieve some data,” Inspector Hanson explained. “That data stops at that point, so our theory is Celine then continued on that pathway down the hill where the coverage wasn’t as good … and it’s our belief she’s either lost or dropped her mobile phone, couldn’t find it in the dark and has made a decision to continue on that straight line towards her car and unfortunately become lost.”
Tasmania Police will join the search, but not lead it, and will focus on searching the line from where the phone was found back to the car park. The environment remains treacherous, and Inspector Hanson warned that “there’s no guarantee we might find anything else.”
The last confirmed sighting of Ms Cremer was in Waratah on June 17, 2023, the day she is believed to have set off on the walk. Her family and friends, including those in Belgium, remain hopeful for her safe return.