More than two years after Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer disappeared in Tasmania, a renewed search has uncovered her mobile phone. The discovery offers new hope of answers for her family and friends.
Cremer, 31, was last seen on June 17, 2023, and reported missing nine days later. She was believed to have gone on a solo bushwalk near Philosopher Falls in northwestern Tasmania. Her car was later found at a nearby trailhead, but an extensive search at the time failed to locate her.
These early searches continued until July 10, 2023, before being suspended due to worsening weather conditions and experts’ claims that she was unlikely to have survived in such conditions for so long.
Cadaver dogs were later deployed, but again, no trace of Cremer was found.
Celine Cremer’s car was found at Philosopher Falls car park on June 27, 2023. Photo: Tasmania Police
Phone discovered
Cremer’s family and friends remained determined to piece together what happened and to find her remains. This weekend, several of her friends traveled to Tasmania to take part in a fresh search led by private investigator Ken Gamble, whom they hired after official searches were scaled back.
Gamble has conducted nearly a dozen searches in the area. With permission from Cremer’s mother, he accessed her phone data to identify last-known locations and areas of bush that may have been overlooked.
Only hours into this latest search, volunteer Tony Hage, who was at the rear of the search line, spotted Cremer’s phone. Her friends quickly identified the purple Samsung device. It was found approximately 60 meters from her last known coordinates.
“They were delighted that something was positively found,” Hage said. “Everyone has high spirits now.”
Ken Gamble holds the newly found phone. Photo: Morgan Timms
The Tasmania Police have now reopened the case and have taken the phone for forensic examination.
“A police search controller is working closely with the private search party to ensure safety and that any discoveries are managed appropriately,” the police said in a statement. “We will remain in close contact with Celine’s family and will continue to assess any new information in a bid to provide them with answers and closure.”
The discovery has prompted criticism of the earlier police search, particularly given how close the phone was to previously searched areas.
“The average temperature was minus two degrees, with significant rainfall and snow to ground level,” Police Inspector Andrew Hanson told ABC News in response. “I’m certainly not going to stand here and say we couldn’t do things differently.”
Lost her way?
Police believe Cremer may have become lost while attempting to return to her car. Data from a tracking app on her phone suggests she may have left the main track in an effort to take a shortcut and get back to the parking lot more quickly in the dark.
“She reached a high point on a hill where the phone connected with satellites, allowing us to retrieve data,” Hanson explained. “That data stops at that point. Our theory is that she continued downhill into an area with poor coverage, either lost or dropped her phone, couldn’t locate it in the dark, and made the decision to continue in a straight line toward her car — unfortunately becoming lost.”
The search will continue over the coming days.
