Elly Warren, from Melbourne, was travelling in Africa before she died this week. Photo / Facebook
Elly Warren, from Melbourne, was travelling in Africa before she died this week. Photo / Facebook
A 20-year-old woman travelling in Africa was last seen dropping off her bag at a beachside hostel before being found dead in a toilet cubicle.
Elly Warren, from Melbourne, was expected to return to Australia on Monday before heading to New Zealand with her boyfriend for a holiday.
Days before she set off for Africa, the 20-year-old told her father: "It's dangerous Dad, I don't know if I should be going over there."
And things took a turn for the worst after she was allegedly raped and attacked when she reportedly walked home alone from a party in Mozambique on Wednesday.
The young traveller had booked two nights at the beachfront Wuyani Pariango backpackers in the picturesque Tofo Bay but she failed to return to her room.
"She came in alone to drop off her bag and then left to meet a friend," the hostel manager revealed.
"She had pre-booked her accommodation but never stayed here.''
Her distraught father, Paul Warren, has revealed his heartbreak over his daughter's death. A tearful Warren told 7News: "She even told me, 'It's dangerous Dad, I don't know if I should be going over there'."And I said to her: 'Yes it is, very dangerous'.''
On Thursday evening, Warren also revealed on social media an autopsy would be conducted to determine her cause of death.
"I would just like everyone to pray for our Elly right now,'' he wrote on Facebook.
"She is at peace with Sam, our dog, who she grew up with and loved dearly. Thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes Elly touched us all in some special way.
"The funeral is going to take some time as Elly was in a remote fishing village called Pemba.
"There is going to be an investigation and autopsy, which I have been informed can take up to two weeks.
"I will be going over there in a few day to bring my baby back home. God bless you Elly Rose Warren.''
The hostel manager said staff saw Elly Warren drop off her bag before heading out to see a friend but she failed to return to her room.
Elly Warren had planned to visit New Zealand after her Africa trip. Photo / Facebook
Her family, who found out about the young traveller's death in a heartbreaking late-night phone call from another backpacker, believe she became separated from her group before her body was later found in a toilet cubicle, the
Age
reported.
The revelation comes after her sister Kristy Warren took to Facebook to warn backpackers to be "careful who they go [travelling] with''.
"My sister was in Africa while my mum got a phone call from one of the backpackers saying to her that her daughter has been murdered,'' Kristy Warren posted to Facebook.
"As I heard that my heart dropped. It is a parent's nightmare to get a phone call like this." Describing her sister as "maybe too ambitious'', she urged travellers to be vigilant when overseas.
"I want to say if you are thinking of going travelling or going overseas please be careful who you go with,'' she wrote.
Paul Warren also paid tribute to Elly Warren's boyfriend, Luke. Photo / Facebook
Paul Warren also took to social media to pay tribute to his daughter, who was in the country as part of conservation programme and was due to arrive back in Australia on Monday.
Even in the midst of his own grief, Warren amazingly passed on his condolences to her boyfriend.
"My lovely daughter Elly passed away yesterday when overseas," Paul Warren wrote.
"I loved her dearly and I will miss her so much. She is now with God. God bless you Elly and I am so sorry for you Luke, you are a great kid. xox."
Elly Warren's mother, Nicole Cafarella told the Age her daughter was "just one of those girls that wanted to travel the world and see everything she could before she was 30".
Days before she died, Elly Warren (third from left) posted a video of her diving with whale sharks. Photo / Facebook
Just days earlier Warren had posted a video to Facebook of herself swimming with whale sharks off the Mozambique coast.
Dozens of online tributes flowed from her friends from Wednesday evening when news broke of her death.
"Taken way too soon, a gorgeous girl who had an amazing life ahead,'' a friend wrote on Facebook.
"I feel like this is all just a f***ed up dream. It can't be true. Rip Elly Warren I'll never forget your huge infectious smile and crazy stories. I love you,'' another posted.
Daily Mail Australia understands Warren was in Mozambique as part of conservation programme Underwater Africa.
But she left the programme on November 8 after joining them on September 27.
