Lyanne Kennedy hasn't heard from her daughter Bella May Culley, 18, since Saturday; the Billingham 18-year-old was last thought to be in the Pattaya area
By Naomi CorriganMulti-media Journalist
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| Bella May Culley who is in Thailand and has not been in contact with her family since Saturday (Image: Family/Getty) |
The distraught family of a teenager from Billingham are appealing for help after she went missing in Thailand.
Bella May Culley was reportedly last seen in the Pattaya area and hasn’t been in contact with her family since Saturday. Relatives have flown out to the country to search for Bella and her mum said they are all desperate for news.
The 18-year-old first flew out to the Philippines just after Easter and had been travelling with a friend around the islands. She is believed to have flown to Thailand on around May 3.
She was in regular contact with her mum Lyanne Kennedy and was due to speak with her on Saturday but the family has had no word since and her phone is thought to be switched off. Bella's father Neil Culley has now flown out to Thailand with his sister Kerrie Culley to try to get answers.
Lyanne told Teesside Live: "She flew out to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and she was there for three weeks. She was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3.
"The last message she sent was to me and that was on on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later. That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now.
"I’m just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information. I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice."
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| It is thought Bella was last in the Pattaya area of Thailand (Image: Newcastle Chronicle) |
The family, who are being supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said police in Thailand and now involved and Bella's case is being treated as "high priority". In a post on Facebook, they said Cleveland Police has also been contacted and anyone who has heard from Bella or has any information is being urged to contact the force.
The post said: "Information on Bella May is now urgently needed on the last known communication with Bella May. The police are now involved over here and in Thailand. Anything could help even if you think it isn’t relevant, it could be."
A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: "We have received a report of a missing person who may be in Thailand. Enquiries are ongoing locally and with other agencies to establish the circumstances. We would appeal for anyone with information on the whereabouts of 18-year-old Bella Culley to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number quoting ref 084859."
A Foreign Commonwealth and Deevelopment Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who is reported missing in Thailand."
Credit: Teesside Live