The family of a 19-year-old British woman who died in a motorcycle crash on a popular route in Vietnam has paid tribute to her, calling her “beautiful, independent and very funny”.
Orla Wates was on a motorcycle ride on the Ha Giang Loop in the country’s north when she was thrown off it and hit by oncoming traffic.
She later died in Hanoi’s Viet Duc Friendship Hospital on April 2 with her family by her side, according to Viet Nam News.
Speaking to Viet Nam News, Orla’s parents, Andrew and Henrietta Wates, said: “Orla was beautiful, independent and very funny, with a sharp wit.
“She loved to look good and lived life to the full.”
Her mother thanked the hospital’s Dr Trịnh Van Dong and its ICU team for caring for her daughter – and said her organs had been donated to save others, according to the outlet.
She said: “At this extremely difficult time for our family, we chose to donate Orla’s organs, as we believe that if there were a way to give opportunity to others, this is what Orla would have wanted.
“Knowing that she is living on through them brings us great comfort.”
Viet Duc Friendship Hospital said the donated organs helped save the lives of three Vietnamese patients.
The hospital’s director presented the family with a “gift of gratitude” while the country’s Health Minister Dao Hong Lan sent them an appreciation letter for their “noble gesture”.
“This noble gesture not only brings life-saving opportunities to many patients but also conveys a profound message of compassion, upholding humanitarian values, the spirit of sharing, and social responsibility that transcends all boundaries of nation and culture,” the letter read.
“This represents one of the first cases of multi-organ donation from a foreigner in Vietnam”, it added.
In an emotional interview during their visit to the hospital, which was shared on the hospital’s social media page, Orla’s father, a building tycoon, said: “Vietnam was a country she loved and so to give back to Vietnam as well I think is very important for us.”
Her mother added: “She had the best time here … she was loving every minute of it. So it is our way of thanking you.”
The Ha Giang Loop is a road trip of around 350km that winds through the Vietnamese mountains near the border with China.
It is popular among tourists, and inexperienced motorcyclists often ride pillion in a group with tour operators.
The loop typically takes around three to four days on a motorcycle.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed its consular staff is supporting the family.
An FCDO spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Orla Wates, following her tragic death in Vietnam.
“We are in touch with the local authorities, and our consular staff are doing all they can to support Orla’s family at this hugely difficult time.”
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