Body of missing British tourist Amelia Bambridge found near Thai maritime border

PREAH SIHANOUK, Nov 1, 2019, The Khmer Times. The body of 21-year-old British tourist Amelia Bambridge, who went missing after a beach party last week on Koh Rong island, was found floating 80 kilometres offshore yesterday, The Khmer Times reported.

Koh Rong city Governor Nuon Bunthol yesterday said the body was found at about 4.30pm near Cambodia’s maritime border with Thailand.

When asked if foul play was involved, Mr Buthol said her body swelled after being exposed to the sea for more than a week and no conclusions could yet be made.

“We cannot make a conclusion right now because we are waiting for the result of an examination of her body,” he said.

Vice Admiral Tea Sokha, deputy commander of the navy, said the body was initially identified based on a tattoo after being discovered by navy personnel taking part in the ongoing rescue efforts yesterday.

“Her body was found about 80 kilometres from Koh Rong island where she went missing,” he said. “We were able to identify her based on the tattoo on her body and the clothes she was last seen in.”

Major General Chuon Narin, chief of provincial police, said Ms Bambridge’s body is now in the provincial referral hospital to be examined.

“The body will be kept at the provincial referral hospital for examination,” Maj Gen Narin said.

He did not speculate on what happened to her after she disappeared from a beach party on the island of Koh Rong on October 24, but earlier this week he said she may have drowned.

Police have not yet released any information to conclude whether her death was accidental or if foul play was involved.

Police questioned at least 20 people as part of their investigation while rescue efforts dragged on for a week after she went missing at about 3am last Thursday; none were named suspects and all were released.

The discovery of the body brings to a tragic end to a desperate search involving more than 100 members of the police, army, navy and Ms Bambridge’s relatives.

Ms Bambridge had befriended other travellers and the alarm was raised after she did not check out of her hostel following a party that went into the early hours on the beach.

Police later found her bag and phone in the area where she was last seen around 3.30am.

A Sihanoukville police officer involved in the search yesterday said Ms Bambridge’s parents remain on Koh Rong island.

“They are sad and don’t really want to talk with anybody,” he said, adding that they will come to the hospital today.

Harry Bambridge, Ms Bambridge’s brother, confirmed in a Facebook post that he had identified the body.

“It’s my little sister Amelia,” he wrote. “There’s nothing more I wanted than to bring her back alive. I’m sorry to you Amelia Bambridge the round is on me when we meet again in heaven.”

Sharon Schultes, Ms Bambridge’s sister, also took to Facebook after the discovery to thank those who joined the search.

“I have had the most horrific confirmation that my sister Amelia Bambridge was found and she is no longer with us,” 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,” she added. “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.”

Additional reporting by AFP