A 21-year-old British tourist whose body was found floating in the sea off the Cambodian coast accidentally drowned, officials have declared – ruling out foul play after a days-long search grabbed international headlines.
Backpacker Amelia Bambridge mysteriously disappeared in southern Cambodia on 24 October after a late-night beach party on the island of Koh Rong.
She did not check out from her hostel, and soon her relatives and more than 100 members of the security forces were scouring the nearby jungle and sea.
Police finally located her body on Thursday some 70 kilometres away near the Thai border, but the case was ruled an accident.
"She died from drowning," Kheang Phearum, a spokesperson for the Preah Sihanouk provincial administration, said.
The backpacker's disappearance prompted a large-scale search of the nearby area. Source: Supplied
"There is no sign of a criminal offence. The body has been given to her family."
A two-hour ferry ride from the boomtown of Sihanoukville, Koh Rong is popular with backpackers for its cheap guesthouses, beachside bars and idyllic sunsets.
Brother Harry Bambridge 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," he said. "I'm sorry to you Amelia Bambridge the round is on me when we meet again in heaven."
British backpacker Amelia Bambridge, 21, disappeared after attending a beach party on Koh Rong island last week. Source: Press Association
The discovery brings a tragic end to a desperate search involving more than 100 members of the police, army, navy and Bambridge's relatives.
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.
Koh Rong island officers searching for missing backpacker Amelia Bambridge. Source: AAP
Police later found her bag and phone in the area where she was last seen at around 3:30 am.
Her family members scrambled to the island to help with the investigation and have also been active on social media asking travellers for possible clues.
The Southeast Asian country's economy relies heavily on tourism and is generally considered safe for travellers.
Harry Bambridge, right, brother of missing British backpacker Amelia Bambridge, sits on a speedboat before leaving to search for her. Source: AAP
But crimes involving foreigners have occasionally grabbed headlines.
Last month a Cambodian court charged three men with gang-raping a French tourist in the coastal province of Kampot after offering her a ride in their car.
With AFP...
