Bella May Culley was reportedly last seen in the Pattaya area of Thailand and hasn’t been in contact with her family since Saturday and her phone is now switched off
A family has been left distraught after their 18-year-old daughter went missing while holidaying in Thailand. Bella May Culley was last spotted in the Pattaya area of the south-east Asian country, but hasn’t been in touch with her family since Saturday. After not hearing from her, relatives decided to fly out to Thailand to carry out their own search for the teen.
Bella was on a trip-of-a-lifetime after first flying out to the Philippines in April, before hopping around its many islands. On May 3, she flew to Thailand, and was initially in regular contact with mum Lyanne Kennedy. She was supposed to speak to Lyanne on Saturday, but her family hasn’t heard anything since and her phone is now switched off. Neil Culley, Bella’s father, has now flown out with her aunt Kerrie Culley as they desperately search to find out she’s safe.
Speaking to Teesside Live, Lyanne said: “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.”
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.”