Amelia Bambridge: Body of backpacker, 21, missing in Cambodia found 30 miles out to sea
The body of missing British backpacker Amelia Bambridge has been found in Cambodia, authorities have confirmed.
Emergency services have been scouring the island of Koh Rong after the 21-year-old disappeared more than a week ago.
Her disappearance sparked a huge search operation, with cops, soldiers and divers combing the area to find her.
The body was reportedly found in the sea by fishermen near the Thai-Cambodian border more than 30 miles from where she vanished.
It has been brought to shore where a post-mortem will be carried out, according to local media.
“We found the body of the missing British woman,” Major general Chuon Narin, police chief for Preah Sihanouk province, said.
A total of 147 police, navy and military personnel were joined by volunteers who searched both the mainland and sea for the student.
Her family have travelled to the area to help the emergency services with the search.
They are yet to comment on the discovery.
Deputy Navy Commander Tea Sokha told The Phnom Penh Post that while the body was decomposed, distinctive tattoos led to the conclusion that it was that of the 21-year-old Bambridge.
“So far we do not know the cause of death. It is too early to conclude whether she died from drowning or another reason,” Sokha said.
He said local fishermen had supplied the information as to the location of the body.
The police chief for Preah Sihanouk province, the area where the 21-year-old was last seen, previously said he believed she has drowned.
Amelia, from Worthing, West Sussex, was last seen at a party on Police Beach, a nightspot popular with tourists, around 3am last Thursday.
Her handbag, containing her purse, phone and bank cards, was later found on the beach.
Amelia’s passport was left at the Nest Beach Club hostel, where she had been staying, and her family were alerted to her disappearance when she failed to check out.
A vigil for Ms Bambridge was held at St Michael's Church in Worthing last night.
Six men who work at restaurants, hotels and guest houses on the island were questioned by police and released without charge on Tuesday evening.
Officials said the men were taken into custody because of complaints by Western tourists that they had acted badly towards visiting women.
A fundraiser launched by Ms Bambridge's sister Sharon Schultes to cover the ongoing search has raised more than £16,000 since Friday.
Her local MP Tom Loughton tweeted: "Devastated to hear the terribly sad news about Amelia Bambridge this morning-the thoughts and prayers of everyone in Worthing are with her family and friends".
Source:https://www.mirror.co.uk/
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