In a chilling twist to a case that has haunted Tasmania for over two years, the mobile phone of Celine Cremer, a 31-year-old Belgian tourist who vanished in June 2023, was found in the dense wilderness near Philosopher Falls. The discovery, made by a private search party, has reignited hope and dread in equal measure, as the phone’s last known signal points to a remote, treacherous part of the forest that even seasoned rescuers hesitate to explore.

Celine Cremer was last seen on June 17, 2023, in the small town of Waratah, Tasmania. She set out for what was supposed to be a simple hike to Philosopher Falls, a scenic trail near Cradle Mountain. When she failed to return, her friends reported her missing nine days later. Police found her white SUV parked at the trailhead, but despite extensive searches through freezing temperatures, snow, and rain, no trace of her was found—until now.

The breakthrough came on the first day of a renewed five-day search led by private investigator Ken Gamble and a team of volunteers, including four of Cremer’s friends who traveled from Belgium. A volunteer stumbled upon Cremer’s Samsung phone, less than 100 meters from her last known GPS coordinates. The device, remarkably intact, has been sent for forensic analysis, with investigators hoping it holds clues to her final moments. What makes the find particularly eerie is the theory that Cremer may have veered off the trail, possibly using an app to take a shortcut back to her car as daylight faded. This decision could have led her deeper into the unforgiving rainforest, where dense undergrowth and perilous terrain make survival nearly impossible.

The phone’s discovery has raised unsettling questions. How did it remain undiscovered in an area police claim was “extensively searched” in 2023? And why does its last signal point to a part of the forest so hazardous that police have called in specialized rescue teams? Locals describe the area as a labyrinth of tangled vines and steep cliffs, shrouded in mist and eerily silent. Some speculate Cremer may have succumbed to hypothermia or become disoriented, while others whisper of darker possibilities—though investigators have ruled out foul play after exploring leads like abduction.

For Cremer’s family and friends, the find is both a glimmer of hope and a painful reminder of their loss. Her mother, contacted in Belgium, remains hopeful but braced for grim news. Tasmania Police have now joined the search, deploying trained officers and volunteers, though bad weather has delayed efforts. As the team prepares to venture into the forest’s most forbidding depths, the world watches, gripped by the mystery of what—or who—awaits them.

The phone may yet unlock the truth about Celine Cremer’s fate, but for now, it only deepens the enigma of a hiker swallowed by Tasmania’s wild heart.