Phone clue in two-year search for missing tourist

Missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer and (right) Search leader Ken Gamble with her mobile phone. Photos: AAP/Australian Story

A renewed search for a Belgian hiker who disappeared more than two years ago has led to a major breakthrough with the discovery of her phone.

The device found on Saturday has been identified as belonging to missing woman Celine Cremer, Tasmania Police confirmed.

Cremer, 31, was last seen in the Philosopher Falls area near Cradle Mountain in Tasmania’s north-west on June 17, 2023. She was believed to have set off on a walk, and has not been seen since.

Family members reported the Belgian national missing nine days later.

A day after the report was filed, Cremer’s car was found in the falls car park. Police believed it had been there for at least a week.

Despite extensive searches in treacherous terrain and challenging weather conditions, there were no further signs of her until Saturday’s discovery.

A renewed search led by a private party had been looking for Cremer when they found the phone in the Philosopher Falls area.

Authorities were notified and arrived at the scene later.

The phone will be forensically examined as part of the ongoing investigation into Cremer’s disappearance.

A police search controller is working closely with the private search party to help with safety and manage any discoveries appropriately.

An initial search was suspended on July 10, 2023, after experts said Cremer could not have survived in bad weather.

Police then used a cadaver dog to search an additional “area of interest” at Philosopher Falls following new information about her phone activity. That investigation was unsuccessful.

Authorities were committed to supporting the independent search party and were in close contact with Cremer’s family to assess any new information to provide them with answers and closure.