NEED TO KNOW The remains found near a waterfall in Tasmania in January belonged to Celine Cremer, 31, who disappeared during a hike in June 2023. Cremer’s cell phone was found during a new search in December 2025, and her bones, teeth and clothing were found months later. Seven months after his remains were found, a coroner determined Cremer’s cause of death. The cause of death of a Belgian tourist whose remains were found near a waterfall has been revealed. three years after her disappearance.Celine Cremer was last seen near Cradle Mountain on June 17, 2023, when she was 31 years old. He disappeared after going for a walk in the Tasmanian rainforest and was reported missing nine days later, The Guardian and the BBC reported. After his car was found at a trailhead, search and rescue teams spent two weeks searching for Cremer, but then cold and inclement weather made conditions dangerous. Although she was not found, search teams continued to search for her, but there was no sign of her for years. Police were searching for Celine Cremer at the time of her disappearance. Credit: Tasmania Police Facebook A break in the case in late 2025 eventually led to his remains being found near Philosopher Falls in the town of Waratah in Australia. The following February, Commander Nathan Johnston of Tasmania Police said authorities confirmed the remains belonged to him. In findings released on Friday, August 28, Tasmanian coroner Madeleine Wilson said Cremer would have died between June 17, 2023 and June 21, 2023, and that his death was ruled an accident. His death was described as the result of a “confluence of errors,” which began when he took a walking trail toward Magnet Dam after visiting Philosopher Falls, rather than returning directly to the parking lot. “The track to Magnet Dam was not well defined and she went off the track and got lost,” Wilson ruled. “The runway deviation occurred at the end of the day, four days before the winter solstice, when the afternoon light was beginning to fade.” Temperatures were near freezing and Cremer had “insufficient clothing,” including no waterproof clothing. Reception was intermittent and he lost his cell phone late in the afternoon, before which recovered data showed he took several photos and videos and also used Google Maps. Wilson said Cremer likely got lost around 3:49 p.m. local time, became “disoriented” without his phone and changed direction. He added that it is not possible to determine the route he took between losing his phone and finding himself in the Arthur River, where his body was found. Her remains showed damage and several fractures, which Dr Andrew Reid, a forensic pathologist, said could have been from a fall or blunt force trauma before she died, or from the body being carried across the river and hitting rocks or debris after death. It is believed that he may have slipped and fallen, or attempted to cross the river without success. Hypothermia, trauma and drowning were mentioned as possible causes of death. The coroner found no evidence that anyone else was involved in her death, and ruled it an accident. Philosopher Falls, where Celine Cremer’s remains are believed to have been found. Credit: Getty In a statement shared after Cremer’s remains were provisionally identified, Amelie Cremer, the missing woman’s sister, said the news brought her family “immense relief” after nearly three years of “endlessness.” waiting.” “After all this time, Celine will finally be able to return home. She will be able to rest in peace, surrounded by a love that never abandoned her,” the sister said in a Facebook post, translated from French. “Celine, we will never forget you,” the sister continued. “Not a day, not a second. Your absence has left a huge void, but your smile, your energy and all the love you gave us live within us. Today we bring you close to us.” The break in Cremer’s case came in December 2025, when her cell phone was found about 300 meters (984 feet) away from a trail during a renewed search, according to Australia’s ABC News. Tasmanian filmmaker Rob Parsons said data from the phone showed Cremer, who was traveling alone in Tasmania, used her phone while hiking a trail leading to the waterfall and tried to use Google Maps to find her way back. Cremer reportedly climbed a hill through thick vegetation south of the waterfall and began heading down the hill before his phone rang for the last time at 4:18 p.m. local time that same day. Don’t miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. “This further proves the strong theory that he became lost and disoriented on a freezing cold night. wet in the middle of winter in that forest,” said Ken Gamble, a private investigator who worked on the case, ABC News reported. In January, a hiker discovered a set of bones along the Arthur River, according to The Guardian. In February, police said five bones, some teeth, a Honda car key and clothing were found during nearby searches. Commander Johnston previously thanked community members for their “support and interest in” Cremer’s case, and acknowledged “the extensive efforts of the search personnel and rescue, partner agencies and volunteers who dedicated a lot of time and resources during the numerous search phases.” Read the original article in People
