Water bottle, plastic bag 'poncho' may not have been Celine's, coroner finds

A "confluence of errors" led to the death of Belgian tourist Celine Cremer in Tasmania's wilderness, a coroner has found, amid recommendations police formalise the use of private search groups.Ms Cremer was 31 when she embarked on a walk to Philosopher Falls, near Wynyard, in Tasmania's north-west in June 2023.She never returned, and her remains were found by a private searcher two-and-a-half years after her disappearance.Coroner Madeleine Wilson today handed down the findings of her investigation into Ms Cremer's death.Ms Wilson determined the remains found along the Arthur River earlier this year did belong to Ms Cremer and that she died by accident."I am satisfied that the involvement of another person in Ms Cremer's death can be definitively ruled out," Ms Wilson said."The death of Ms Cremer was the result of a confluence of errors that commenced when she took the walking track towards Magnet Dam, having visited the Philosopher Falls lookout, instead of returning directly to the car park."Water bottle, plastic bags had male DNAThe water bottle and garbage bag were found next to a fallen tree, which searchers believed could have been used as a makeshift shelter. (Supplied: Rob Parsons)Tasmania Police abandoned the search for Ms Cremer after searching the Arthur River and the area around the track for 10 days.Ms Cremer's family engaged IFW Global private investigator Ken Gamble, who recruited a team of volunteers, which included some of Ms Cremer's Belgian friends, to recommence the search.Ken Gamble led the private search effort to find Celine Cremer. (Australian Story: Morgan Timms)The team found Ms Cremer's phone — leading the police to join the search — and subsequently a water bottle and plastic bags containing holes they believed Ms Cremer may have used as a poncho.During a later solo search, one of the volunteers found human remains.Jarrod Boys discovered Ms Cremer's remains during a search of the Arthur River. (Australian Story: Morgan Timms)Phone found in renewed search for missing Belgian touristPolice then found more human remains, and items of clothing believed to belong to Ms Cremer.The coronial findings reveal Ms Cremer's DNA was not detected on the water bottle. Instead, it tested positive for male DNA.The plastic bags detected male DNA, and were inconclusive for female DNA."I am not satisfied that the discovery of the glass bottle and plastic bags are evidence that Ms Cremer had taken shelter at that location in June 2023," Ms Wilson said.Tony Hage found Ms Cremer's phone on the first day of the renewed search effort. (Australian Story: Morgan Timms)Ms Wilson said she was satisfied Ms Cremer had wandered off the track and become lost when trying to return to her car, losing her phone in the process."Given the location of the human remains recovered, it is likely that she became disoriented and without the benefit of her phone, mistakenly changed direction and began moving towards the Arthur River," she said."Alternatively, she may have made a conscious decision to find and then follow the Arthur River."Ms Wilson said it was not possible to determine exactly how Ms Cremer ended up in the river, but she may have slipped and fallen from the banks or while trying to cross it.Police response adequate, and private searchers commendedMs Wilson stated the initial police response was appropriate."The response was somewhat limited by the prevailing weather conditions, in particular the water levels in the Arthur River during 2023, which were significantly higher than at the time that Ms Cremer's remains were recovered in January and February 2026," she said.Coroner Madeleine Wilson has handed down her findings into Celine Cremer's death. (Supplied)However, she recommended Tasmania Police consider conducting a review into the utilisation of private search groups and the development of protocols governing their use."The search effort coordinated and led by IFW Global was well planned and coordinated," Ms Wilson said."Volunteers were vetted to ensure that persons with appropriate skill sets were selected."She said Police Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins had committed to undertaking the review, which would consider formal protocols, eligibility criteria, potential registration mechanisms and arrangements for information sharing and evidence handling.Tasmania Police and Ambulance Tasmania personnel search the Arthur River in February this year. (Supplied: Tasmania Police)Ms Wilson noted the Waratah Wynyard Council had put track markers in place since Ms Cremer's disappearance, and erected a sign at the end of the track saying "Danger — Do Not Enter — Walkway Closed".She recommended the council erect additional signage at the start of the track informing bushwalkers where the track ends, and noting the surface was degraded, uneven and potentially hazardous.Ms Wilson also commented that Ms Cremer had not followed standard safety precautions from Tasmania Police and the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.Those safety precautions are:Being prepared by taking a map, torch, clothing and footwear to suit any conditions, including a waterproof jacketPlan the walk by studying maps and guidesWalk within your capabilitiesAvoid walking aloneLet someone know where you are goingShe said walkers should familiarise themselves with those safety messages and be aware mobile coverage was often limited in the wilderness.Council have been told to erect new signage at the start of the walking trail. (Australian Story: Morgan Timms)