Amelia Bambridge: Missing Cambodia backpacker drowned

  • Published
Amelia BambridgeImage source, Family Handout/LBT
Image caption,

The body of Amelia Bambridge was found at sea eight days after she was last seen on the island of Koh Rong

British backpacker Amelia Bambridge, who went missing in Cambodia, died from accidental drowning, a post-mortem examination has concluded.

The body of the 21-year-old was found about 30 miles from the island of Koh Rong, where she was last seen at a beach party eight days earlier.

Ms Bambridge, from Worthing, West Sussex, was reported missing when she failed to check out of her hostel.

Officials said her death was "not related with any other crime at all".

Her body was taken to Sihanoukville on the mainland after it was recovered on Thursday.

The post-mortem results were confirmed by Sihanoukville Information Department and local police.

Officials said her body had been released to the family who would be able to return her to the UK immediately.

Image source, AFP
Image caption,

Amelia Bambridge's father (second left) and brother (right) arrived in Koh Rong on Sunday to join the search

Ms Bambridge was last seen at about 03:00 on 23 October.

Her purple rucksack with her purse, phone and bank cards inside were found the following morning at a private party venue on the island,

About 150 volunteers - including divers, navy personnel, local people and tourists - joined Cambodian police in land and sea searches.

Ms Bambridge's father and brother flew out to join the search parties on Sunday and her mother arrived on the island the next day.

Image caption,

Koh Rong is situated off the west coast of Cambodia

Following the discovery of Ms Bambridge's body, her sister Sharon Schultes, wrote an emotional Facebook post in which she said: "It breaks my heart to let all my close family and friends know the horrendous outcome that we didn't want.

"Now we have to get our Amelia back home to England so we can lay her beautiful soul to rest and to remember the wonderful life she lived."

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