British teenager Orla Wates dies in Vietnam
Doctors praise the family’s decision to donate Ms Wates’ organs – a move that has saved three Vietnamese patients in organ failure.
Orla Wates. Pic: Famly handout
A 19-year-old from the UK has died after a reported motorbike crash in Vietnam.
Local media said Orla Wates was involved in an accident on the Ha Giang Loop, a popular route in northern Vietnam that winds through mountains near the border with China.
Iceberg drifts close to the village – then the residents see what’s on itHouse and Garden
Viet Nam News reported she died at the Viet Duc Friendship Hospital in the capital, Hanoi, on 2 April.
Her parents, Andrew and Henrietta Wates, told the outlet she “lived life to the full”.
“Orla was beautiful, independent and very funny, with a sharp wit,” they said.
Her mother thanked the hospital’s Dr Trịnh Van Dong and its emergency team for caring for Ms Wates – and said her organs had been donated to save others.
The family met doctors at a “gratitude ceremony” on Wednesday morning, according to the hospital’s Facebook page.
Ms Wates’ mother told Viet Nam News that donating her organs is “what Orla would have wanted”.
“Knowing that she is living on through them brings us great comfort,” she said.
The Ha Giang Loop is a popular road route with tourists. File pic
In an interview on the hospital’s social media, she added: “It is our way of thanking you.”
Ms Wates’ organs saved three Vietnamese patients in end-stage organ failure, said Vietnam’s health minister.
In a letter to the family, Dao Hong Lan wrote: “Your daughter’s legacy will continue to live through those who received her organs and in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.”
The minister said it was one of the country’s first cases of multi-organ donation from a foreigner.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed its consular staff are supporting the family.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Orla Wates, following her tragic death in Vietnam,” said a statement.
“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.”
News
SURVIVING THE UNSURVIVABLE… Trey Isles was shot 15 times, yet somehow survived what many thought was impossible. Investigators describe the scene as horrifying, a moment that could have claimed his life instantly. Police say three suspects are still at large and considered extremely dangerous. Family and neighbors struggle to make sense of the attack, unsure why Trey was the target. Sources say his courage and resilience have inspired the community, even as questions mount. How did he survive such a barrage of gunfire? And will justice ever catch up to the suspects? 📌 Full story
He Was Shot 15 Times And Somehow Survived… But The Questions Surrounding Trey Isles Still Haunt Everyone Following The Case There are moments in life that divide everything into two versions of reality. The version that existed before. And the version people are forced to live afterward. For 21-year-old Trey Isles, according to investigators, that […]
Shaniece Willingham, 24, allegedly pushed her three toddlers — ages 3, 2, and 8 months — into a pool while livestreaming the attack on Instagram. The children survived thanks to family members who rushed in to rescue them, but Willingham has been held without bond since September 2025 and faces three counts of attempted first-degree murder. 😢 Her mental health history, including four involuntary commitments and a bipolar diagnosis, will likely play a role in her October 19, 2026 trial.
Florida Mother Charged With Attempted Murder After Allegedly Pushing Three Toddlers Into a Pool While Livestreaming — Trial Set for October In Valrico, Florida, the community was stunned when 24-year-old Shaniece Willingham allegedly pushed her three young children into the deep end of a community pool. Authorities claim she livestreamed the shocking act on Instagram, […]
Aaron Galea, a 27-year-old father and husband, survived a horrifying accident that left him with second- and third-degree burns across his body. A routine chore turned catastrophic when flames engulfed him, leading to surgery, intensive care, and a grueling recovery process that continues today.
“A Fire That Changed Everything”: Aaron Galea’s Journey Through Pain, Faith, and Healing. For Aaron Galea, the simple act of being home now carries a weight of triumph and fragility unlike anything he could have imagined.Just one week ago, the 27-year-old husband and father of two endured a life-altering accident, one that has left scars […]
A HEARTBREAKING weekend for five families: Police have released devɑsᴛɑting details along with a stark wɑrning following five H0:RRIFIC water tr-ɑgeɗιes at popular tourist spots during the recent holiday period
A HEARTBREAKING weekend for five families: Police have released devɑsᴛɑting details along with a stark wɑrning following five H0:RRIFIC water tr-ɑgeɗιes at popular tourist spots during the recent holiday period FIVE teenagers have died in separate tragedies after getting into difficulty in water at popular beauty spots over the Bank Holiday. A 13-year-old boy, two […]
Only minutes before the crash, 21-year-old Lauryn Akey stopped for gas and sent a message home saying she loved her family and would be back soon. It was supposed to be another ordinary drive after attending a friend’s wedding — the kind of night nobody expects to remember forever. Authorities say moments later her vehicle was hit head-on by a truck allegedly traveling the wrong way on Interstate 75. Lauryn never made it home. Family members say she had dreams of becoming a nurse and was preparing to graduate next year, with her whole future still ahead. Now, people across social media are sharing one message: Live Like Lauryn. Because beyond the headlines was a young woman who loved deeply, lived fully, and left behind memories far bigger than one heartbreaking night. 👉 Read the full story in the comment below ⬇️
Footage Revealed Showing Moments Before Wrong-Way Crash That Killed Student Headed Home From Wedding Lauryn Akey was “ejected” from her car around 1 a.m. on May 17 following the crash, police say Lauryn Akey; Footage of moments before the crash.Credit : altogetherfuneral.com; Florida Highway Patrol NEED TO KNOW Lauryn Akey, 21, was killed in a wrong-way […]
A mother left home seeking stability and a better life for her children, only to vanish under suspicious circumstances. Authorities allege that someone she trusted may have taken her life, leaving three kids without their mother. This heartbreaking case is raising urgent questions about trust, danger, and how we protect those trying to start over…
She Left Home for a “Better Job” — Weeks Later, a Virginia Mother of Three Was Allegedly Buried in Concrete by the Man Who Promised Her a New Life. Angel Whitaker was not chasing luxury, fame, or some impossible dream when she left Bristol, Virginia, for what she believed would be a better opportunity. She […]
End of content
No more pages to load
