Bushwalker finds human remains in Tasmania amid search for missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer

A bushwalker has found human remains in a remote area of Tasmania amid a search for missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer.

A bushwalker searching for missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer has found what is believed to be human remains.

Tasmania Police have confirmed the discovery was made near the Philosopher Falls area in Waratah on the state’s west coast on Wednesday morning.

Inspector Andrew Hanson in a statement said the bushwalker had been scouring the area amid a search for Ms Cremer, who was 31 when she disappeared in June 2023.

Belgian tourist Celine Cremer was last seen in Tasmania in June, 2023. Picture: Supplied
“While forensic testing is yet to be completed, a pathologist has reviewed images and confirmed the remains are human,” Inspector Hanson said.

“The volunteer contacted police immediately after the discovery, and officers from the Western District, along with specialist forensic personnel, are attending the scene.”

Ms Cremer’s family have been notified, he said.

“We understand how distressing this development may be for her loved ones, and while everyone involved hopes it will help to provide answers, formal forensic analysis is required before we can determine whether the remains belong to Celine,” Inspector Hanson said.

“The person who located these remains has been dedicated to searching for Celine for some time, and their continued efforts and that of other volunteer search parties reflects the strong community support behind this matter.”

“We acknowledge the continued public interest in this case and will share further confirmed information when we are able to do so.”

A mobile phone belonging to Ms Cremer was discovered last month at at Philosopher Falls amid a renewed search for the tourist. Picture: Tasmania Police
Ms Cremer had been travelling around Tasmania before she was last seen in the state last seen on June 17, 2023.

At the time of her disappearance, police and rescue crews had searched the Philosopher Falls Track area where Ms Cremer’s white Honda vehicle was found in a carpark.

A mobile phone belonging to Ms Cremer was then found last month amid a renewed search for the tourist.

Tasmania Police in statement on December 14 said police resources would “formally join the independent search” for Ms Cremer following the discovery.

Inspector Hanson had said the mobile would undergo further forensic examination.

“The phone was found in an area that has been extensively searched previously and phone data, as well as the location it was found, supports our theory that Celine may have, using an app on her phone, elected to leave the Philosopher Falls track to take more a direct route back to her car as daylight faded,” he said in the statement.

“We suspect she dropped her phone and continued without it, becoming disoriented in dense terrain.”

Inspector Hanson also said police believed Ms Cremer had driven to Philosopher Falls and parked her car before heading out on “what was meant to be a short bushwalk”.

“Nine days later, on Monday, 26 June 2023, friends of Celine notified Tasmania Police of her disappearance, with officers locating her car at the Philosopher Falls carpark the next day,” he said.

“In the days since Celine’s disappearance, the winter weather in the area included sub zero temperatures, snow and rainfall.

“Expert medical advice at the time indicated those conditions were not survivable for the duration she is believed to have been exposed.”