The family of Hannah Witheridge, who was murdered while travelling in Thailand have issued a statement on the anniversary of her death.
Hannah, 23, from Hemsby, in Norfolk, was killed alongside David Miller 24, on the island of Koh Tao last year.
In the statement released this morning the family say
"People try to reassure us that time will help to ease the pain, they are wrong. Every day gets harder and the more time that passes increases the pain and intensifies the longing. It is torturous.
Witheridge family statement It comes as the trial of the Burmese workers accused of the killings enters its final phase
Read the family's full statement below:
Today marks a year since our lives were changed forever. Our beautiful Hannah was taken from us in the most horrific way possible.
"Losing someone you love is always difficult but losing someone so senselessly and unexpectedly, at such an early stage of their life, makes for an indescribably impossible time.
"Hannah was a fun, vibrant and talented young woman. She was always happy and possessed a unique ability to find good in everyone and everything. Along with her bubbly and exciting personality, Hannah was extremely intelligent and after earning a degree with first class honours from the University of East Anglia, was working towards a Masters degree in Speech and Language therapy in Essex. She would have gone on to make a significant difference to the lives of many people.
"People try to reassure us that time will help to ease the pain, they are wrong. Every day gets harder and the more time that passes increases the pain and intensifies the longing. It is torturous.
"The world is a less vibrant and much less beautiful place without Hannah in it. Today serves as a very real reminder that the world is a very dangerous place and that life isn’t fussy about who it trips up. As always, our thoughts are with David’s family.”
Witheridge family statement 