Police chief says land and sea searches will continue until backpacker, 21, is found

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

Cambodian police have said they believe the missing British backpacker Amelia Bambridge has drowned.

Bambridge, 21, from Worthing, West Sussex, was last seen on Koh Rong island in the early hours of 24 October. She was reported missing after failing to check out of her hotel on time. Staff at Police Beach, a private venue on the island, found her purple rucksack with her purse, phone and bank cards inside the following morning.

Members of Bambridge’s family have travelled to the island to join the search.

On Wednesday, the police chief for Preah Sihanouk province, where Bambridge was last seen, said he believed she had drowned.

Maj Gen Chuon Narin said searches of Koh Rong island and in the Gulf of Thailand had failed to provide any information about her disappearance. However, he said land and sea searches would continue until she was found.

About 150 volunteers including divers, navy personnel and visitors as well as Cambodian police are involved in the search. It is understood that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has had members of staff on the island for a number of days.

Six men who work at restaurants, hotels and guest houses on the island were questioned and released without charge on Tuesday evening. Officials said the men were taken into custody because of complaints by western tourists that they had behaved badly towards female visitors.

On Wednesday, Bambridge’s family criticised the FCO for what they said was a lack of support in a petition. The change.org petition was started by Bambridge’s close friend, Temisis Conway, and has been promoted by members of the missing backpacker’s family, including her sister Sharon Schultes.

The petition said the FCO was not helping in the search for Bambridge. It said: “We have had no support from our own UK parliament and currently have been without a good translator for days now.

“This is proving difficult to transfer information to the family and we fear this could hinder our chances of safely bringing her home.

“It is the duty of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to stand up for British people in need, wherever they are in the world, and as of yet they’ve not done anything of the sort.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Cambodian army and provincial officer boats continue their search for Amelia Bambridge off Koh Rong island, Cambodia, on 29 October. Photograph: Heng Sinith/AP

An FCO spokesperson said: “Amelia’s family have our deepest sympathies at this very difficult time. Our staff have been providing in-person assistance to them on Koh Rong island, and maintaining close contact with the Cambodian authorities searching for Amelia.”

Bambridge set off on her trip on 27 September, when she flew to Vietnam, her family said. Her father, Phil Bambridge, who has travelled to the island, said on Tuesday that he believed she had been “taken”.

He added that, having viewed CCTV, he believed she had been lost inland.

A fundraiser launched by Schultes to assist in the costs of the search has raised more than £16,000 since Friday. She said on the page: “No retreat, no surrender, we are gonna find her.”

Five relatives are on the island and drones and thermal imaging cameras are assisting with the search.