Celine Cremer’s family share ‘immense relief’ after human remains provisionally confirmed to be of missing Belgian tourist

The family of Belgian tourist Celine Cremer have shared their immense relief after human remains found off a hiking trail were confirmed to be the missing woman. Celine Cremer. Ms Cremer, 31, disappeared while on a hiking trip to Philosopher Falls, in Tasmania’s northwest, on June 17, 2023. Despite multiple searches at the time, the only trace of the Belgian traveller was her white Honda CR-V which was found in a carpark 10 days later. A renewed effort by emergency services was spurred in December last year after the discovery of her phone by a volunteer search group. Jarrod Boys, a member of that search party, located the human remains in January near the Arthur River. On Friday morning, Tasmania Police said the remains had been “provisionally identified” as Ms Cremer. Shortly after, her sister Amélie Cremer took to social media to share her family’s relief. “After almost three years of endless waiting, we finally have answers,” she said. “DNA tests and dental expertise confirmed that everything matched Celine. These words are hard to write … but they also bring us immense relief. “Today, our hearts are upset, but at the same time. After all this time, Celine can finally go home. “She will be able to rest in peace, surrounded by love that never left her side.” Ms Cremer thanked everyone who participated in the search. “Celine, we never forgot you. Not one day, not one second,:” she said. “Your absence has left a huge void, but your smile, your energy and all the love you gave us live on within us. Today we bring you near us.” Tasmania Police commander Nathan Johnson said expert analysis of the items recovered provided “compelling evidence” they had found Ms Cremer. “Tasmania Police extends its sincere condolences to Ms Cremer’s family and loved ones,” he said. “While this provisional confirmation will not ease their loss, we hope the outcome will provide them with some measure of clarity and closure. “We want to thank community members for their ongoing support and interest in Celine’s case, and I want to acknowledge the extensive efforts of search and rescue personnel, partner agencies and volunteers who dedicated significant time and resources during the many search phases,” he said. A report will be prepared for the coroner, who will formally identify Ms Cremer. Ms Cremer was last seen in Waratah, about 300km northwest of Hobart, on June 17, 2023. It is understood the 31-year-old intended to go for a short bushwalk through the falls, but she never returned. Police have previously shared that the discovery of Ms Cremer’s phone, and the data contained within, supported the theory she’d gotten lost trying to make her way back to her car. “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,” Inspector Andrew Hanson said in December. “We suspect she dropped her phone and continued without it, becoming disoriented in dense terrain.” Police renewed the search for the missing backpacker in early February after human remains were found near where Ms Cremer vanished. A specialist team, police and volunteers combed through the dense bushland in Tasmania, including the 350m stretch of the Arthur River. There, they found five additional bones, two teeth and a Honda car key, which police confirmed belonged to Ms Cremer. Items of clothing – including a polar fleece jacket – were also found in the renewed search.