In the shadowy depths of Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest, where ancient trees form an impenetrable canopy and the ground is a labyrinth of moss-covered logs and tangled ferns, a heartbreaking case that has haunted investigators for over two and a half years took a poignant turn this weekend. On Saturday, December 13, 2025, a private search team uncovered the Samsung mobile phone belonging to 31-year-old Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer, buried in the undergrowth near Philosopher Falls – the very spot where her signal vanished in June 2023. Yet despite this long-awaited breakthrough, Tasmania Police delivered a sobering update: Celine remains missing, with authorities suspecting she accidentally dropped the device and pressed on into the thick terrain, becoming fatally disoriented as night fell. The clock is ticking once more in this desperate hunt, underscoring the unforgiving dangers of remote wilderness hiking.

The discovery has injected both hope and renewed anguish into a mystery that began as a simple day walk but spiraled into one of Australia’s most enduring missing persons cases. Celine, an adventurous art teacher from Bruges with a zest for solo travel, had been exploring Australia for months in her white Honda CRV. She arrived in Tasmania captivated by its wild landscapes, documenting her journey with joyful photos of rugged coastlines and mountain vistas. On June 17, 2023, after buying supplies in the quiet town of Waratah, she headed to the Philosopher Falls trailhead – a short, scenic loop promising views of a cascading waterfall amid lush rainforest, often hailed as an easy hour-long return suitable for casual hikers.

She parked her vehicle, left indications of her mainland ferry plans, and set off alone. Her phone’s last ping placed her near the falls that winter afternoon. When she missed her ferry booking days later, friends in Belgium alerted authorities. Police found her locked SUV intact, with personal items inside, but no trace of Celine herself. What ensued was a massive operation: helicopters scanning from above, drones piercing the canopy, ground teams grid-searching with cadaver dogs, and swiftwater specialists checking creeks. Harsh winter conditions – freezing temperatures, heavy rain, and snow – hampered efforts, and by July 10, 2023, the search was suspended after survival experts deemed it impossible beyond the initial days.

The Tarkine, a vast cool-temperate rainforest teeming with unique flora and historic mining relics, is as beautiful as it is treacherous. Signs at the trailhead warn of past disappearances, including 19th-century prospectors swallowed by the bush. Off-track, visibility drops to mere meters, gullies hide sudden drops, and disorientation sets in rapidly. Celine, though experienced, was navigating with a phone app in fading winter light – sunset around 5 p.m., but under the dense canopy, darkness falls much earlier.

For years, the case lingered in painful limbo. Memorials appeared at the car park: flowers, messages, a plaque remembering the smiling woman whose adventure ended abruptly. In Belgium, her family and friends maintained a vigil, fundraising and sharing updates. Private investigator Ken Gamble entered the picture in 2024, analyzing recovered phone data that suggested Celine had deviated from the marked path, possibly crossing a creek and heading uphill for what appeared a shortcut back to her car.

That analysis fueled the latest push. Four of Celine’s closest friends flew from Belgium to join Gamble and local volunteers for a five-day private search starting December 13. Basing operations in Waratah – a small community that has embraced the case as its own – the group included seasoned locals donating time, food, and resources. Emotions were raw: tearful reunions, determined briefings on safety in the hazardous terrain.

The find came dramatically on the first morning. Veteran SES volunteer Tony Hage, who had conducted over 20 solo searches in the area, spotted a familiar mauve case partially hidden by leaves, less than 100 meters from Celine’s final GPS coordinate – in a zone previously scoured extensively. The group confirmed it immediately; police verified it via serial number. Hage described the moment as overwhelming, his composure cracking as the weight of the discovery hit.

Tasmania Police quickly responded, with Inspector Andrew Hanson providing a detailed update on December 14. The phone, now undergoing forensic examination, aligns with their primary theory: As daylight waned, Celine consulted her mapping app and opted to bush-bash off-track for a straighter line to her vehicle. “We suspect she dropped her phone and continued without it, becoming disoriented in dense terrain,” Hanson stated. The location supports this – an area of thick scrub where navigation without aids is nightmarish.

Despite the clue, no further signs of Celine emerged that day. Inclement weather – rain, hail, and potential snow – forced a pause on Sunday, deemed too dangerous for ground teams. Police announced they would formally join the effort upon resumption, deploying trained search and rescue officers alongside SES volunteers. Up to 40 personnel are expected, focusing on the phone site and projected paths beyond. Cadaver dogs and drones may return; the device itself could reveal final photos, battery status, or app history.

The update has amplified fears among those closest to the case. While the phone offers a tangible trail after 912 days of nothing, it also paints a grim picture: a lone hiker, phone lost, plunging deeper into disorienting wilderness as cold and darkness closed in. Hypothermia, a fall, exhaustion – any could have claimed her swiftly. Family in Belgium, updated directly, remain hopeful yet braced for tragedy. Friends on the ground spoke of mixed emotions: elation at progress, dread at implications.

Waratah locals, many involved from the start, feel the loss acutely. The town rallied again, providing meals and shelter. One resident reflected on how Celine’s story resonated: a vibrant traveler embracing Tasmania’s beauty, only to vanish in its embrace.

Celine was no novice adventurer. Friends recall her boundless energy, love for painting and photography, and fearless spirit that inspired others to travel solo. Her social media brimmed with wonder – sunrises over Cradle Mountain, coastal walks, captions celebrating freedom. “She lived fully,” one friend shared, voice breaking. “This wasn’t supposed to end like this.”

The Philosopher Falls case highlights broader warnings about remote hiking: even short tracks demand preparation – tell someone your plans, carry backups like maps or PLBs, respect weather and light. Tasmania’s wilderness claims lives regularly, reminding that nature’s allure comes with peril.

As searchers await clearer skies, the rainforest holds its secrets tight. The phone – a small, weathered link to a lost life – has refocused the hunt, but answers remain elusive. For Celine’s loved ones, spanning continents, the wait is agonizing. Will this lead to closure, to bringing her home? In a landscape that hides so much, hope persists amid the fear – but time, and the elements, are unforgiving foes.

The desperate search continues, a testament to enduring love and the human drive to resolve the unresolved. In Tasmania’s wild heart, the plea echoes: find Celine, and lay this mystery to rest.