Australian police have formally suspended the search effort for the missing 31-year-old Belgian tourist, Céline Cremer, saying that there is no chance she is still alive.
The Belgian woman was travelling in the island state of Tasmania alone by car and was last seen on 17 June. Australian police carried out land and air searches for almost three weeks, but these efforts have now been formally suspended, local police confirmed in a statement.
"Considerable search efforts have been undertaken in difficult terrain and treacherous weather conditions but unfortunately Céline has not been located," Commander Stuart Wilkinson said.
"Expert medical advice has been received that given consideration to poor weather conditions and cool temperatures, Céline could not have survived the conditions she has been exposed to since she was reported missing."
He added that, throughout the search period, Tasmania Police had been in constant contact with the woman's family, and "extended his thoughts to her family and loved ones at this difficult time." The missing person investigations in relation to Céline remain active.
A picture of missing Belgian tourist Céline Cremer. Credit: Belga
The young woman had not been in contact with her family since 12 June. Police confirmed she was last spotted in the town of Waratah, around a 4.5-hour drive from Tasmania's capital, Hobart, on 17 June. The last signal from her phone was emitted on 20 June.
With the exception of her car – a white Honda CRV which was found unattended in a car park near Philosopher Falls, a popular hiking trail in Tasmania's sparsely populated northwest on 27 June – no other objects have been found during the search.
Police have been intensively searching this area in recent weeks. Drones and helicopters were also deployed and specialised divers searched the water. An ultimate search operation was launched last week, hoping to find the woman, but to no avail.
