Amelia Bambridge missing: British backpacker disappears from Cambodia tourist resort
Police and volunteers searching jungle, beach and sea for missing solo traveller
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A 21-year-old British backpacker who disappeared after a beach party on a Cambodian island has been declared missing.
Police and volunteers on the island of Koh Rong are searching for Amelia Bambridge, a former student from West Sussex who was last seen by friends on Wednesday.
Her mother, Linda Bambridge, was contacted by the manager of the Nest Beach Club hostel after Amelia failed to check out at noon on Friday and her handbag – containing her purse, phone and bank cards – was found on Police Beach where the party had been held.
She never returned to the hostel to collect her passport and failed to meet a friend to leave the island together on Friday.
Her family are flying out to assist in the search. Her mother told The Argus: “This is very out of character, she is normally so organised.
“I don’t know what to think. The police have confirmed she is missing – apparently the embassy is closed until Monday. There doesn’t seem to be any urgency.”
Ms Bambridge is hoping Amelia got lost on the way back from the beach, which is reportedly an unlit 40-minute journey through a densely forested area.
Ryan Harris, an 18-year-old from Worcester who had met Amelia a week ago and briefly travelled with her as part of a group of friends, said people across the island, which is roughly 15km long, were banding together to find her.
“People are diving. People are checking the jungles and the beaches,” he told the BBC. “Police sent three search teams out, so they’re helping as well. It’s a whole island thing now. Everyone’s looking.”
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said it is assisting Amelia’s family and is in close contact with the Cambodian police.
Amelia’s sister, Georgie, told The Argus: “She is strong-minded, really sensible and very organised. She spent the last year googling solo female travelling, looking at pages and blogs and sorting out everything.
“I’m just in shock, she has never done anything like this before.”
Additional reporting by PA
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments