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UK police working with Vietnam over death of three British tourists UK police working with Vietnam over death of three British tourists
(35 minutes later)
UK detectives are working with Foreign Office and Vietnamese officials over the deaths of three British tourists in a climbing accident in Vietnam.UK detectives are working with Foreign Office and Vietnamese officials over the deaths of three British tourists in a climbing accident in Vietnam.
Sisters Beth Anderson, 24, and Isobel Mackensie Squire, 19, died along with their friend Christian Sloan, 25, at the popular beauty spot in the country’s central highlands on Friday. Sisters Beth Anderson, 24, and Isobel Mackensie Squire, 19, died along with their friend Christian Sloan, 25, at the popular tourist spot in the country’s central highlands on Friday.
The tour guide who led them through the Datanla waterfalls has said he tried to stop them venturing towards the whirlpool that swept them to their deaths.The tour guide who led them through the Datanla waterfalls has said he tried to stop them venturing towards the whirlpool that swept them to their deaths.
Now South Yorkshire police have confirmed that the sisters, from Sheffield, were taking part in a licensed guided tour, following initial claims by local officials that the tourists were with an unauthorised guide. South Yorkshire police have confirmed that the sisters, from Sheffield, were taking part in a licensed guided tour, following initial claims by local officials that the tourists were with an unauthorised guide.
A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire police said: “Specially trained officers are supporting Beth and Isobel’s family during this extremely difficult time.A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire police said: “Specially trained officers are supporting Beth and Isobel’s family during this extremely difficult time.
“We are working closely with the FCO to determine the full details around their death and to keep the family updated on the latest information from Vietnam.“We are working closely with the FCO to determine the full details around their death and to keep the family updated on the latest information from Vietnam.
“We have been informed by the FCO that initial enquiries have confirmed that the sisters were taking part in a legitimate walking tour and that the company has an international licence, registered to operate in Vietnam. “We have been informed by the FCO that initial inquiries have confirmed that the sisters were taking part in a legitimate walking tour and that the company has an international licence, registered to operate in Vietnam.
“In addition, the tour guide was legally employed by the company and had issued the group with life vests and helmets.”“In addition, the tour guide was legally employed by the company and had issued the group with life vests and helmets.”
The sisters were seven weeks into a backpacking tour of south-east Asia, police said.The sisters were seven weeks into a backpacking tour of south-east Asia, police said.
The police spokeswoman added: “This is an extremely distressing time for the family who are keen to dispel any misinformation about Beth and Isobel. The police spokeswoman added: “This is an extremely distressing time for the family who are keen to dispel any misinformation about Beth and Isobel. The family has asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.”
“The family has asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.”
The police statement came shortly after reports that the tour guide Dang Van Sy, 26, told police the tourists ignored him when they headed towards the dangerous area of the falls.The police statement came shortly after reports that the tour guide Dang Van Sy, 26, told police the tourists ignored him when they headed towards the dangerous area of the falls.
He said he had asked them to wear lifejackets and crash helmets, and placed all of their personal belongings in his waterproof bag. They had taken part in a common activity of lying down in the stream and letting the water move them downwards before reaching an area close to the whirlpool.He said he had asked them to wear lifejackets and crash helmets, and placed all of their personal belongings in his waterproof bag. They had taken part in a common activity of lying down in the stream and letting the water move them downwards before reaching an area close to the whirlpool.
“I know that place is dangerous so I shouted to ask them to stay away from that,” Sy told police, according to Tuoi Tre News. “But they ignored me, jumping down to the stream, still with their life vests. Then the man walked back to the women behind him, but he slipped into the whirlpool and was immediately swept away, down to the waterfall.”“I know that place is dangerous so I shouted to ask them to stay away from that,” Sy told police, according to Tuoi Tre News. “But they ignored me, jumping down to the stream, still with their life vests. Then the man walked back to the women behind him, but he slipped into the whirlpool and was immediately swept away, down to the waterfall.”
Sy said he shouted to the female tourists to stand up and try to withstand the water flow. “But a moment later, the women too were swept away,” he said. “I did not dare to jump [in] to save them as I would also be killed in the same manner.” Sy said he shouted to the female tourists to stand up to try to withstand the water flow. “But a moment later, the women too were swept away,” he said. “I did not dare to jump [in] to save them as I would also be killed in the same manner.”
In a statement the sisters’ family described them as “shining lights” and said: “Sisters Beth and Izzy were living a life of adventure and did so right to the end.” In a statement, the sisters’ family described them as “shining lights” and said: “Sisters Beth and Izzy were living a life of adventure and did so right to the end.”
Sloan’s family paid tribute to him in a statement released on Friday night: “Christian’s death is a very sad loss to us. He was a very popular young man, formerly in the Royal Navy, who had many, many friends not just locally but around the world. He lived for life.”Sloan’s family paid tribute to him in a statement released on Friday night: “Christian’s death is a very sad loss to us. He was a very popular young man, formerly in the Royal Navy, who had many, many friends not just locally but around the world. He lived for life.”