YEARS AFTER BELGIAN BACKPACKER CELINE CREMER DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A TRACE IN TASMANIA, THE TRUTH HAS FINALLY BEEN CONFIRMED — CORONER RULES HER DE-ATH AN ACCIDENT, CLOSING ONE OF THE REGION’S MOST HAUNTING MISSING-PERSON MYSTERIES
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of a Belgian traveller in Tasmania more than two years ago has finally been resolved, with a coroner ruling her death was accidental.
Celine Cremer, 31, disappeared while on a solo bushwalk near Philosopher Falls in Tasmania’s north-west on June 17, 2023.
The 31-year-old was reported missing by her family eight days later, sparking a major search involving police and SES ground crews, specialist swift water rescue personnel, drones and a helicopter.
The initial search was eventually suspended, but her family continued efforts through private investigators at IFW Global, who coordinated further searches.
A major breakthrough came in December 2025 when volunteers found Ms Cremer’s mobile phone, providing investigators with vital clues about her movements.
Ms Cremer’s remains were discovered earlier this year along the Arthur River by an independent searcher. Tasmania Police Search and Rescue crews later recovered further items, including her car keys.
Due to the condition of the remains and recovered items, the Tasmanian Coroners Court said on Friday it could not determine precisely how Ms Cremer died, according to The Mercury.
Coroner Madeleine Wilson said Ms Cremer’s death was the ‘result of a confluence of errors’ and identified several possible contributing factors, including hypothermia, physical trauma and drowning, but ruled out foul play.
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A coroner has ruled that the death of Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer was an accident
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Ms Cremer went missing near Philosopher Falls in Tasmania’s north-west in 2023, prompting the coroner to recommend warning signs be installed at the site
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An extensive multi-agency search for her was eventually suspended, but private investigators and volunteers continued searching for her
‘I am satisfied that the involvement of another person in Ms Cremer’s death can be definitively ruled out,’ she said.
‘I find that death occurred by way of accident.’
The coroner found that Ms Cremer had walked beyond the Philosopher Falls onto a poorly maintained track before she became lost as daylight faded.
Coroner Wilson noted Ms Cremer would have been in wet winter conditions while wearing insufficient clothing and had lost her phone shortly after 4.18pm.
She also found she was in an area with poor or intermittent reception ‘in dense forest terrain and fading light’.
‘It is not possible to determine the route taken once Ms Cremer lost her mobile phone, to her final resting place in the Arthur River,’ Coroner Wilson said, adding that she could not confirm how the backpacker reached the water.
Coroner Wilson said Ms Cremer could have slipped and fallen from the river bank, or as she attempted to cross the water.
The coroner recommended Waratah-Wynyard Council install clear warning signs at the lookout junction to inform visitors the Magnet Dam trail is unmaintained and hazardous.
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Ms Cremer’s remains were discovered by an independent searcher earlier this year
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After Ms Cremer’s remains were discovered earlier this year, her family thanked everyone involved in the search
Coroner Wilson also suggested Tasmania Police develop protocols for collaborating with private search teams.
After Ms Cremer’s remains were discovered earlier this year, her family thanked everyone involved in the search.
‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who participated in the search and helped find her,’ her sister Amelie wrote.
‘Thanks also to our relatives for their support, respect and presence throughout these years. You have been essential.
‘We will update you as soon as we have more information regarding the funeral.’
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16086215/tasmania-belgian-backpacker-celine-cremer-missing-coroner.html
