Fears grow for Scot, 20, missing in Cambodia
THE mother of a young Scot travelling in Cambodia last night appealed for help to trace him, as concerns grow for his safety.
Ryan Graham, of Edinburgh – who has just turned 20 – left for his solo trip around Thailand and Cambodia in May and is due to return home next month.
He had been keeping family and friends up to date with his travels daily through Facebook and text messages, but his messages have dried up. According to a friend, his phone is on and someone with a foreign accent has been answering it.
Last night, his mother Nikki, 40, a post office branch manager, said her son was ‘a very loving boy’ and called for anyone with information to get in touch. An online appeal by her has been shared more than 1,000 times.
She said: ‘His friends are worried and that makes me worry more. He’s outgoing and friendly, just a family guy who loves his friends. He wouldn’t hurt a soul.
‘The police have spoken with the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office phoned not long ago to contact the hostel, Arcadia, where we were told he was, and said he’d never been.
‘He last messaged me at 8.45 on Saturday morning in Cambodia. I replied to him, and I’ve not heard anything since. Now his phone is ringing out. He’d been in touch every single day, with me or someone else.’
In a Facebook appeal, his best friend Jordi Laing wrote: ‘We haven’t heard from Ryan since Friday/Saturday and are beginning to get a bit worried. He was last known to be in Cambodia in Kampot. If anyone at all hears anything please comment or message me or his mum.’
Mr Graham, who has a sevenyear-old sister called Sophie, turned 20 while in Thailand.
His mother added: ‘He left on May 20 and was just going to go to Thailand for the full three months, starting in the south and moving up north.
‘He was doing all the sights, going from island to island to see what they were all like. He got pally with two lads from Manchester who decided they wanted to go to Vietnam, so the three of them went to Vietnam.
She added: ‘If he was going to go off on a wander he’s always messaged me first. He hasn’t even messaged his pals.
‘If he lost his phone he’d ask someone if he could borrow one to make contact with home.
‘This is out of the blue – his pals are all saying the same thing.
‘I told the police that way back in May he went off radar for one day and I gave him a rollocking.
‘He has phoned or messaged me every day or every other day. He’s a very popular lad. He’s got a heart of gold.’
Mrs Graham added: ‘I’ll do anything to try to find him.’
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said last night: ‘We are providing assistance to the family of a British man who was reported missing in Cambodia.’
‘He wouldn’t hurt a soul’