‘Confluence of errors’ led to Belgian tourist Celine Cremer’s death in Tasmanian wilderness, coroner finds

Coronor finds 31-year-old deviated from a walking track as dusk fell, four days before the winter solstice

Overlapping errors, including a lack of preparation in near-freezing winter weather, contributed to the death of a Belgian tourist on a wilderness track.

Celine Cremer set off on a walk at Philosopher Falls in Tasmania’s remote north-west on 17 June 2023 and was reported missing almost 10 days later.

Extensive initial police efforts found no trace of the 31-year-old before private searches organised by her friends and family discovered her remains near a river in January 2026.

In findings published on Friday, the coroner, Madeleine Wilson, ruled Cremer died between 17 and 21 June, 2023 as a result of an accident.

Her death followed a “confluence of errors” that began when she took a walking track towards Magnet Dam after visiting the Philosopher Falls lookout.

“The track to Magnet Dam was not well defined and she wandered off track and became lost,” Wilson said.

“The deviation from the track occurred late in the day, four days before the winter solstice, at which time the afternoon light was starting to fade.”

Overnight temperatures in the area at the time were close to freezing and Cremer had insufficient clothing, including nothing waterproof, Wilson said.

Phone reception was intermittent and she lost her mobile, which was her only form of communication, late in the afternoon on the day she set out.

Recovered data showed she took several photos and videos between 2.21pm and 2.42pm and used Google maps several times afterwards with the last input recorded at 4.18pm.

It is likely Cremer got lost around 3.49pm and subsequently became disorientated without her phone and mistakenly changed direction, the coroner said.

“It is not possible to determine the route taken once Cremer lost her mobile phone, to her final resting place in the Arthur River,” Wilson said.

It was possible Cremer slipped and fell, or tried unsuccessfully to cross the river.