Backpacker's parents 'fear the worst'

Tributes have been laid at the site of the tragedy

The father of one of the Welsh backpackers missing in the Australian hostel blaze has spoken of his fears that his daughter has died in the tragedy.

Ken Morris from the village of Cefn Coed near Merthyr Tydfil is fearful for his 28-year-old daughter Natalie.

"We've heard nothing but must fear the worst," he said on Saturday."

Sarah Williams: Missing

"I know Natalie would have phoned if she was able to,to say she was safe and well."

Ms Morris and her friend Sarah Williams, 22, from the nearby village of Aberfan are still reported missing after the fire at the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Queensland.

Fifteen young people died in the blaze on Friday, seven of them from Britain.

But the authorities have said it may be weeks before the bodies can be formally identified.

Kelly Symonds: Rescued

The two Welsh women were travelling around the world for a year with their friend Kelly Symonds, 23.

Ms Symonds was pulled from the blaze by another Briton.

Mr Morris said he and his wife Yvonne were still clinging to the hope that Natalie could still be alive.

"Now that the bodies are starting to be taken out of the building all we can do is wait by the phone," he said.

Kelly was hysterical when we first spoke

Kelly's father Michael Symonds

"The three girls would always stay together but apparently the three of them were in separate rooms in the hostel," added Mr Morris.

He said the family were trying to comfort each other but were not coping very well.

Meanwhile the father of Kelly Symonds said she had called home on Saturday and explained how she was rescued from the fire.

Backpackers comfort each other

"She told us that her room-mate Keith O'Brien got her out of the hostel and saved her life," said Michael Symonds.

"We can't thank Keith enough for saving her," he said.

"Kelly was hysterical when we first spoke to her but today she felt far better."

"With everything that has gone on we are just grateful she is alive," Mr Symonds said.

He said Kelly was planning to fly to Sydney to meet some other Welsh friends.

Wedding

"We fear that the two she flew out with last September have died."

Kelly left the University of Glamorgan in south Wales last summer and decided to take a gap year to travel the world.

Her schoolfriends Sarah, a clerical worker in a hospital, and Natalie all decided to travel with her on their trip around the world.

Sarah was due to come back to Britain in a fortnight for her brother's wedding.

Adventure

Her parents Margaret and Ryland last saw her a month ago when they travelled to Australia.

They were too upset to talk about their ordeal but Sarah's relative, Councillor David Lewis said : " Sarah's parents have been in touch with the Foreign Office and have been waiting for news."

He said Sarah was due home soon after enjoying her foreign adventure.

"She had been working through Australia and was due to travel down to Sydney tomorrow".

The girls were all schoolmates at Afon Taf High School near Merthyr Tydfil.

A school spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with their families."