The brother of missing backpacker Amelia Bambridge yesterday took part in a desperate a helicopter search for his sister.
Fears are growing for the 21-year-old, who was last seen on the Cambodian island of Koh Rong a week ago.
Amelia’s brother, Harry, a former paratrooper, has travelled to the island with other family members, including her parents, to help with the search.
Today, he accompanied police conducting a boat search off the coast, before boarding a helicopter in a bid to find his sister. He said: “We won’t stop until she’s found.”
Amelia, from Worthing, West Sussex, was last seen at a party on Police Beach, a nightspot popular with tourists, around 3am on Thursday.
Her handbag, containing her purse, phone and bank cards, was later found on the beach.
Amelia’s passport was left at the Nest Beach Club hostel, where she had been staying, and her family were alerted to her disappearance when she failed to check out.
Around 150 people were today scouring the island for Amelia.
But a member of the Cambodia’s K-9 police dog unit, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “At this point the chance of finding her is very, very slim.
As we reach seven days the scent trail is very low percentage wise. But we still have hope. It is still worth trying.”
Amelia’s aunt, Johanna O’Flaherty said she hopes Amelia is still alive, but fears she is being held by human traffickers in Cambodia.
Speaking to a TV station in Las Vegas, where she is as a psychologist, Johanna said she has helped many trauma survivors in her line of work but had “never thought it would happen to our family”.
She added: “I think there is a very high possibility that she is in captivity. I believe that she was abducted, and there’s a good possibility that it is for human trafficking.’
Cambodian officials investigating Amelia’s disappearance have reportedly questioned six men, but no charges have been made.
Deputy police chief Nop Panha said: “We are still conducting the search operation and we will try our best to find her.” Amelia’s friends and family have slammed the UK Government for not providing the family with more support.
A Change.org petition has been launched in the hope it would spur the Government into action.
Family friend Lauren Hayes wrote on Facebook : “Amelia has been missing for a week now.
“Her family are currently in Cambodia, partaking in the searches, reviewing CCTV and generally being the driving force behind the search.”
Lauren continued: “The UK government hasn’t offered any support or help – not even a translator has been provided to the family to assist in communications, which are extremely strained due to language barriers.
"Please sign this petition as a call to action for the UK government to get involved and support her family to find Amelia and bring her home.”
Police continue to question six Cambodian men, but no charges had been filed against them.
The six people being questioned work at restaurants, hotels and guesthouses on the island.
A Foreign Office 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.”
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