Amelia Bambridge: Post-mortem confirms British backpacker drowned
The 21-year-old's body was discovered in waters near the Thai border, around 62 miles away from where she went missing.
Friday 1 November 2019 13:41, UK
A post-mortem has confirmed that British backpacker Amelia Bambridge drowned, a Cambodian official has said.
The 21-year-old's body was discovered in waters near the Thai border, around 62 miles away from where she went missing, on Thursday.
The governor of Preah Sihanouk province said her body was examined at the main hospital in the city of Sihanoukville in Cambodia.
The police chief earlier said the post-mortem would be attended by forensic police, a hospital doctor, a court prosecutor, a representative of the British embassy and members of Ms Bambridge's family.
Her mother, Linda Schultes, was seen arriving at the hospital on Friday along with other family members.
Ms Bambridge, a gap year student from Worthing, was last seen at a beach party on Koh Rong island at 3am on 24 October.
She was travelling on her own for the first time and had been due to check out of the Nest Beach Club hostel later that day.
The police chief said her family was with the authorities when they found the body floating off Koh Chhlam, an island in neighbouring Koh Kong province.
Her brother, Harry Bambridge, later confirmed the news on social media, writing: "I've just seen her and I can confirm it's my little sister Amelia.
"I'm so sorry to all her friends and family, there's nothing more I wanted then (sic) to bring her back alive and I really f* tried.
"And I'm sorry to you, Amelia Bambridge, the round is on me when we meet again in heaven."
Her sister Sharon Schultes also wrote an emotional tribute on the family's fundraising page.
She said: "I have had the most horrific confirmation that my sister Amelia Bambridge was found and she is no longer with us.
"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.
"Thank you for all the support we've had, please continue to do all you can so we can get all our family home with Amelia safely."
The fundraising page has raised nearly £17,000 to date.
Cambodia's deputy navy commander said the body had been spotted by a fisherman, who notified authorities.
Police said on Thursday that early indications suggested drowning as the cause of death.
A total of 147 police, navy and military personnel were joined by volunteers who searched both the mainland and sea for the Briton.
Police focused their search on the coast and sea after Ms Bambridge disappeared from Police Beach, where her handbag was found with her purse, phone and bank cards inside.
Earlier this week, six men, who are all Cambodian and work in bars and hotels on Koh Rong island, were brought in for questioning in connection with her disappearance.
They have since been released without charge.
After Ms Bambridge's body was found, Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, 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."