Tasmania Police resources will formally join the independent search for missing Belgian woman, Celine Cremer after her mobile phone was located at Philosopher Falls yesterday.
Inspector Andrew Hanson said Ms Cremer's friends and family had arranged a privately organised search of the area this weekend, with Tasmania Police's support.
"Police were not leading or coordinating this private search, but we had been supporting the effort by sharing information and advice about what to do should anything be discovered," he said.
"Yesterday, a bit before midday, the private search party located a mobile phone, which has been confirmed as belonging to Celine and will now undergo further forensic examination."
"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.
"We suspect she dropped her phone and continued without it, becoming disoriented in dense terrain.
"Tasmania Police resources are now formally joining the independent search effort, and we will have trained search and rescue officers and SES volunteers on the ground when weather conditions allow the search to continue."
Inspector Hanson said the independent search controller has postponed searching today for safety reasons due to rain, hail and potential snow. A Bush Walkers Weather alert has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
"When the search recommences, we will work together with the independent searchers to specifically re-search the area where the phone was located and the likely route Celine may have taken after losing it," he said.
Inspector Hanson said the last confirmed sighting of Ms Cremer was in Waratah on Saturday, 17 June 2023.
"We believe she then drove to Philosopher Falls, parked her car and set off on what was meant to be a short bushwalk. Unfortunately, she did not return," he said.
"Nine days later, on Monday, 26 June 2023, friends of Celine notified Tasmania Police of her disappearance, with officers locating her car at the Philosopher Falls carpark the next day."
"In the days since Celine's disappearance, the winter weather in the area included sub zero temperatures, snow and rainfall."
"Expert medical advice at the time indicated those conditions were not survivable for the duration she is believed to have been exposed."
"Our initial search continued for two weeks, and follow-up searches have been conducted numerous times over the last two years, with no further signs of her located until yesterday."
"Our family liaison officer updated Celine's mother in Belgium yesterday, before the discovery of the phone was announced publicly, and we remain in close contact with her."
"While finding her phone has provided some hope for the many people invested in this matter, it is a stark reminder for Celine's loved ones of the tragedy of their loss."
