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Belgian tourist's Tasmanian wilderness death ruled accident after 'confluence of errors'

A coroner has ruled that Belgian tourist Celine Cremer died accidentally in Tasmania's wilderness in June 2023, attributing her death to a series of errors including lack of preparation and wandering off a poorly defined track. The inquest also recommended police formalize the use of private search groups, which ultimately found her remains.

By Tertius News AI Desk 2 outlets · 2 distinct · 2 articles Version 1 Coverage Aug 28, 2026 Published 1h ago

Coroner rules on death of Belgian tourist in Tasmanian wilderness

Belgian tourist Celine Cremer died accidentally in Tasmania's remote north-west in June 2023, a coroner has found, in a case that also prompted recommendations about the use of private search groups in missing persons investigations.

Coroner Madeleine Wilson handed down findings into the death of Ms Cremer, 31, who set off on a walk at Philosopher Falls, near Wynyard, on 17 June 2023 and was reported missing almost 10 days later. Her remains were found near the Arthur River in January 2026 by a private searcher, two-and-a-half years after her disappearance.

Ms Wilson determined Ms Cremer died between 17 and 21 June 2023 as a result of an accident, ruling out the involvement of another person. "I am satisfied that the involvement of another person in Ms Cremer's death can be definitively ruled out," Ms Wilson said.

A confluence of errors

The coroner attributed the death to a "confluence of errors" beginning when Ms Cremer took a walking track towards Magnet Dam after visiting the Philosopher Falls lookout, rather than returning directly to the car park. "The track to Magnet Dam was not well defined and she wandered off track and became lost," Ms Wilson said.

The deviation occurred late in the day, four days before the winter solstice, when afternoon light was fading. Overnight temperatures in the area were close to freezing, and Ms Cremer had insufficient clothing, including nothing waterproof.

Phone data recovered from Ms Cremer's mobile, which was found by volunteers in December 2025, showed she took photos and videos between 2.21pm and 2.42pm and used Google maps several times afterwards, with the last input recorded at 4.18pm. The coroner said it was likely Ms Cremer got lost around 3.49pm and became disorientated without her phone, which was her only form of communication and which she lost late in the afternoon on the day she set out.

"It is not possible to determine the route taken once Cremer lost her mobile phone, to her final resting place," Ms Wilson said, adding that it was possible she slipped and fell or tried unsuccessfully to cross the Arthur River.

Police response and private search role

The initial police search, which lasted 10 days and covered the Arthur River and surrounding area, was deemed appropriate by the coroner, with efforts guided by "accepted methodologies" and somewhat limited by weather conditions, including significantly higher water levels in 2023 than when her remains were found.

The search was later resumed after Ms Cremer's family engaged private investigator Ken Gamble of IFW Global, who recruited a team of volunteers including some of Ms Cremer's Belgian friends. The team found her phone, leading police to rejoin the search, and subsequently discovered a water bottle and plastic bags containing holes that were believed to have been used as a makeshift poncho. The water bottle and plastic bags tested positive for male DNA and were inconclusive for female DNA, the coroner found. One volunteer later discovered Ms Cremer's remains during a solo search.

The coroner recommended Tasmania Police consider a review into the utilisation of private search groups and the development of protocols governing their use. Police Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins committed to undertaking the review. Ms Wilson also praised the private search company and volunteers for finding Ms Cremer's remains.

Recommendations on track signage

The Waratah Wynyard Council had installed track markers since Ms Cremer's disappearance and erected a sign reading "Danger — Do Not Enter — Walkway Closed". The coroner recommended the council erect additional signage at the start of the track, explaining that it is not managed for recreational use and that the surface is degraded, uneven and may be hazardous.

Ms Cremer, who had travelled to Australia in 2022 on a working holiday, had planned to return to the mainland four days after the walk. The coroner noted she had not followed standard safety precautions advised by Tasmania Police and the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.

How each outlet told it

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ABC Australia as of Aug 28, 2026, 2:46 AM UTC

Framing: Our reading The tone is neutral and factual, reporting the coroner's findings and recommendations without emotional language.

Facts Included:

Belgian tourist Celine Cremer died in Tasmania's wilderness in June 2023.
Her remains were found by a private searcher two-and-a-half years after her disappearance.
Coroner Madeleine Wilson handed down findings into Ms Cremer's death.
Ms Wilson determined Ms Cremer died by accident and ruled out the involvement of another person.
Ms Cremer's phone was found by Tony Hage on the first day of the renewed search effort.
The water bottle and plastic bags found near her remains tested positive for male DNA and were inconclusive for female DNA.
Ms Wilson recommended Tasmania Police consider a review into the utilisation of private search groups and the development of protocols governing their use.
Police Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins committed to undertaking the review.
The Waratah Wynyard Council had put track markers in place since Ms Cremer's disappearance and erected a sign saying "Danger — Do Not Enter — Walkway Closed".
Ms Wilson recommended the council erect additional signage at the start of the track.
Ms Cremer had not followed standard safety precautions from Tasmania Police and the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.

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The Guardian — World as of Aug 28, 2026, 4:46 AM UTC

Framing: Our reading The tone is factual and neutral, reporting the coroner's findings without emotional language or advocacy.

Facts Included:

Celine Cremer, a Belgian tourist, died on a wilderness track in Tasmania.
She set off on a walk at Philosopher Falls in northwest Tasmania on 17 June 2023.
She was reported missing almost 10 days later.
Her remains were found in January 2026 near a river.
Coroner Madeleine Wilson ruled her death occurred between 17 and 21 June 2023 as an accident.
The coroner identified a 'confluence of errors' including lack of preparation and wandering off the track.
The track to Magnet Dam was not well defined and she became lost.
The deviation from the track occurred late in the day, four days before the winter solstice, when afternoon light was fading.
Overnight temperatures were close to freezing and Cremer had insufficient clothing, including nothing waterproof.
She lost her mobile phone, her only form of communication, late in the afternoon on the day she set out.
Her phone was found by a search party of volunteers in December 2025.
Phone data showed she took photos and videos between 2.21pm and 2.42pm and used Google maps several times afterwards, with last input at 4.18pm.
It is likely she got lost around 3.49pm and became disorientated without her phone.
The coroner said it was not possible to determine the route taken after she lost her phone.
It was possible she slipped and fell or tried unsuccessfully to cross the Arthur River.
Cremer had travelled to Australia in 2022 on a working holiday and planned to return to the mainland four days after the walk.
Wilson praised a private search company and volunteers for finding her remains.
The police response to the missing person report was appropriate and their search efforts were guided by 'accepted methodologies'.
Police efforts were somewhat limited by weather, with water levels in the Arthur River significantly higher in 2023 than when her remains were found.
Tasmania Police committed to a review into the use of private search groups in missing persons investigations.
The coroner recommended the local council put up signs at the entrance to the Philosopher Falls track, explaining it is not managed for recreational use and the surface is degraded, uneven and may be hazardous.

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Transparency & Audit Trail

2 outlets · 2 distinct · 2 articles consulted: ABC Australia, The Guardian — World Version 1 Written 2026-08-28