Seven suspected human bone fragments have been recovered from the Arthur River near Philosopher Falls in Tasmania’s remote north-west.
The discovery was made be a volunteer searching for missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer, who vanished in the area more than two years ago.
Two bones were first found on the dry, rocky riverbed by searcher Jarrod Boys on Wednesday morning.
He photographed the remains, recorded their GPS coordinates and moved to an area with phone coverage before contacting authorities shortly before midday.
Forensic officers, winched in by helicopter, later located five additional items in shallow water nearby.
Tasmania Police Inspector Andrew Hanson confirmed on Thursday that a “lower jawbone” was among the remains, allowing for potential dental comparison.
No clothing or personal belongings were found at the scene.
The remains were discovered about two kilometres from the main search area where police initially concentrated their efforts following Cremer’s disappearance.
Inspector Hanson said the proximity had prompted investigators to consider a possible link to the missing 31-year-old.
“There is no doubt that the proximity of those bones is close enough to the area where Celine Cremer went missing that we are considering the possibility that the remains are those of Celine,” he said.
However, he said police were treating the find as a separate investigation until the identity could be formally confirmed.
The state pathologist has confirmed the remains are human.
Identification will require examination by a pathologist, anthropologist and dental specialist, followed by DNA testing. The process is expected to take several weeks.
Police plan to return to the site tomorrow with six search and rescue specialists, who will be inserted by helicopter 400 to 500 metres downstream.
They will then wade upstream in a line search through the low river.
Inspector Hanson said the original search was hampered by extreme conditions, with high water levels and temperatures averaging minus two degrees.
Search teams used hazardous swift water rescue techniques to cover 500 metres upstream and downstream of Philosopher Falls.
He said theories about how Cremer became lost remained part of the coronial investigation.
“Ultimately the coroner is the one that makes these decisions,” Hanson said.
Police said further information would be released once testing was complete and results had been confirmed.
