Amelia Bambridge: Brother confirms body is British backpacker's in emotional message

The brother of British backpacker Amelia Bambridge has spoken emotionally after her body was found at sea.

Confirming the news on social media, Harry Bambridge wrote: "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."

The 21-year-old 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.

Her body was discovered in waters near the Thai border, around 62 miles away from where she went missing, said Chuon Narin, police chief of the Preah Sihanouk province.

He said Ms Bambridge's family was with the authorities when they found the body floating off Koh Chhlam, an island in neighbouring Koh Kong province.

"The body is being transported to a marina from the Thai border. It will take two hours to reach the mainland," Mr Narin told Reuters.

"According to the people who are transporting her body, it's almost 100% her looking at her body's markings, including a tattoo."

He said an autopsy will be conducted when the body reached the mainland, adding 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.

Ms Bambridge's family flew out to Cambodia this week to track her down, with her father, brother and uncle boarding a boat to join a sea search.

Officials have been checking the trails around the beach after CCTV showed her heading to the party just before 2am but not returning, and asked fisherman to help with the operation.

A specialist search-and-rescue dog was also brought in to look for the British backpacker on Wednesday to help detect areas where Ms Bambridge's scent could be found.

Her father, Phil Bambridge, previously told Sky News he believed she was taken after he combed through CCTV footage of the night she went missing.

Hours before her disappearance, Ms Bambridge told her sister on a phone call that she was having "the best time ever" on her trip.

"She said it was doing so much for her confidence and she found so many people who were friendly," her sister Georgie told Sky News.

"She said 'Everyone is so cool here' and couldn't be happier."

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."