THE distraught family of a young Chester woman lost on the high seas near Mexico are hoping she will be found alive.
Former Chester Catholic High School student Rebecca Coriam, aged 24, from Guilden Sutton, was last seen on Monday (March 21), hours before the Disney Wonder Cruise ship she was working on was docked in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico.
The alarm was raised when Rebecca, who worked in the ship’s youth programme, failed to turn up for her shift on Tuesday.
Her parents, Micheal and Ann, flew out to Los Angeles on Thursday (March 24) in the hopes of finding their daughter - known to her friends and family as ‘Becca’ - when the ship docks.
Speaking at a press conference at the Crowne Plaza in Chester on Friday (March 25), Rebecca’s uncle John Jennings along with Rebecca’s elder sister, Rachael, who works at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Hoole, made a desperate plea for her safe return.
"We can’t believe it.
"The ship is huge - I am telling you that they haven’t searched the whole ship. When it docks we hope they will find her.
"She came back for her grandad’s funeral about six weeks ago - that’s the last time she was home.
"She talks to us through Skype and Facebook all the time. I remember her mum had put something on Facebook and she didn’t reply after about 12 hours, that was unusal for Rebecca."
Mr Jennings added: "Becca has a lot of friends in Chester, and on board the boat. Come home, Becca. Everyone loves you and misses you."
A spokesperson for Disney Cruises said: "We have also conducted a thorough and comprehensive inspection of the ship and spoken with the crew member's colleagues to gather as much information as possible."
The cruise line said the Mexican Navy and the US Coast Guard have been conducting searches since Tuesday. The FBI has also been notified, although the Bahamian Maritime Authority is leading the investigation.
