‘No sign’ of Celine Cremer, Belgian tourist missing in Tasmanian wilderness

Police have given a heartbreaking update on the search for a Belgian tourist who has been missing for nearly two weeks in “freezing temperatures”.

There is “no sign” of a Belgian tourist who has now been missing in the Tasmanian wilderness for nearly two weeks.

Celine Cremer was reported missing on Monday after concerned family and friends raised the alarm, with police finding her white Honda CRV in the carpark of the Philosopher Falls Trail on Tuesday.

Police have been told that she has been stuck in unsurvivable conditions in the Tasmanian bush, leaving chances of finding her alive very slim.

“Weather conditions have been challenging over the past few days, with freezing temperatures, snow and rain occurring,” Inspector Athea Maingay said.

Celine Cremer was last seen on June 17 in the town of Waratah, about 250km west of Launceston. Picture: Tasmania Police

Police found her white Honda CRV in the carpark of the Philosopher Falls Trail on Monday, June 26. Picture: Tasmania Police

“Unfortunately, we have received expert medical advice that indicates the recent conditions are not survivable for the length of time that Celine is thought to have been exposed in the wilderness.”

The search for the 31-year-old continued on Thursday, however, there are no further signs of her beyond her car.

Police believe the vehicle has been in the carpark since June 20 “at least”, a week before the car was found.

They also believe that the young woman was only equipped for a light walk and that she had become lost.

“There is nothing to indicate anyone else was involved at this point,” she said.

Police were able to locate the traveller’s vehicle by tracking the signal of her mobile phone, though a signal has not been detected since June 20.

Police said the search remained a ‘search and rescue’ operation. Picture: Tasmania Police

Inspector Maingay said indications were Ms Cremer was an “inexperienced hiker” who was “prepared for a light day of travel” at the time she disappeared.

Extremely cold conditions and snowfall has impeded the search and rescue operation, with a bushwalkers weather alert in place in Tasmania.

“A search has involved aerial and ground crews, but the weather in the area has been challenging and changing on a frequent basis,” Inspector Maingay said.

“It is quite cold, there has been a lot of rain and there has been cloud cover coming in and going away which has impacted our aerial assets.”

Challenging weather conditions have made the search more difficult. Picture: Tasmania Police

Inspector Maingay said police remained in contact with Ms Cremer’s family and friends, for whom the situation had become “very distressing”.

Police confirmed the effort remains a “search and rescue” operation and officers were holding out hope for a positive outcome.

“We always do,” Inspector Maingay said.

Ms Cremer was last seen on June 17 in the nearby town of Waratah, about 250km west of Launceston.

The young traveller had shared images of her travels to social media in the months prior to her disappearance.

Ms Cremer shared photos of her travels to social media in the months leading up to her disappearance. Picture: Facebook

“A little devil in Tasmania,” she posted on Facebook on February 22 alongside a photo looking down on Hobart.

Ms Cremer also shared the immense joy she had taken in travelling around Australia.

“Australia is indeed so beautiful! And so big,” she wrote to a friend under the post.

The Philosopher Falls track remains temporarily closed to the public while the search continues and is not expected to reopen for several days.

Anyone who has been in the Philosopher Falls area from June 17 onwards or who may have information about Ms Cremer has been asked to contact 131 444.

Originally published as ‘No sign’ of Celine Cremer, Belgian tourist missing in Tasmanian wilderness