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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Lorraine King

Last footage of Brit backpacker missing in Cambodia as sister makes emotional plea

The distraught sister of a British backpacker missing in Cambodia has made an emotional appeal for her to be found safe and sound.

Amelia Bambridge, 21, from Worthing, West Sussex, was last seen by travelling companions at a beach party on the island of Koh Rong at 3am on Thursday.

She left the party and never made it back to Nest Beach Club - the hostel where she was staying and was due to check out the following day.

Her rucksack filled with some of her possessions was found on a rock near the beach shortly after 18-year-old Ryan Harry reported her missing.

Georgie Bambridge has made an emotional appeal (BBC)

Amelia's 19-year-old sister Georgie told the BBC: "She's my best friends. We were like twins, she's literally my other half.

"We need to find her. It has to happen. We need to find her. She needs to come home."

The last footage taken of Amelia was at the party and shows her chatting with friends and posing for pictures.

Last footage of Amelia at the beach party (BBC)
Georgie has the last footage of her sister on her mobile phone (BBC)

Ryan, who was part of the group travelling Cambodia with the Amelia, contacted the police when Amelia failed to show up as arranged.

He said: "We met in Phnom Penh. She was one of the first people I meet there.

"It's definitely out of character for Amelia not to show up. She always sticks with the groups and doesn't wander off on her own. This is definitely out of character."

Kouch Chamroeun, the Governor of Sihanoukville and General Thong Lim, Secretary General of the Cambodian Coastal Management and Development Committee, are co-ordinating the search for Amelia.

Her sister Georgie said Amelia is sensible and organised (Facebook)
Amelia Bambridge, 21, is missing in Cambodia (PA)

The divers searched the waters around the island, some 130 miles  from the capital Phnom Penh, and drones were used to scour the dense jungle and coastline. 

Amelia's mother Linda Bambridge, 52, and other family members have flown out to join the search.

She is hoping that Amelia got "lost on her way back" and the search party will be able to find her.

Amelia left the UK last month after completing an apprenticeship.

Amelia's purple rucksack was found on rocks (ViralPress)
These items were found in the rucksack but Amelia's passport is still a the hostel (ViralPress)

It is her first time travelling on her own and her family said she saved up for two years to fund it.

Georgie said: "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.

Scuba divers searched the waters around island (ViralPress)
Police and volunteers join the search for Amelia Bambridge (ViralPress)

The hostel where Amelia was staying still has her passport.

Police have released an image of Amelia's backpack and its contents.

The bag contains a small purse, several packs of over-the-counter medication, her mobile phone, a phone charger, headphones, bank cards, a watch, a lighter, a pen, a tourist SIM card, a small padlock, a nail file and a keyring.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We are assisting the family of a British woman who has been reported missing in Cambodia and are in close contact with the Cambodian police."

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