British building tycoon’s teenage daughter, 19, is killed in Vietnam gap year motorbike tragedy
A construction tycoon’s teenage daughter has died after a motorbike crash in Vietnam.
Orla Wates, 19, whose father is a director of £2.4billion building firm Wates, was on a gap-year trip when the accident happened.
She was riding along the Ha Giang Loop – a 250-mile mountain route popular with young travellers – when she was reportedly thrown from the bike and hit by a truck.
The cause of the crash is under investigation but it is understood she was a passenger on a bike when the driver lost control.
She was declared brain dead at a hospital in Hanoi and her parents Andy Wates, 56, and Henrietta, 53, flew from London to say goodbye before she died last Thursday.
A former pupil of the prestigious Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, Orla had been due to study anthropology at Durham University.
+3
View gallery
Orla Wates, 19, has died after a motorcycle accident in Vietnam during her gap year
She took a year out to travel around south-east Asia and volunteer in Africa, according to her profile on professional networking site LinkedIn.
Orla’s father, the great-grandson of Wates founder Edward, told the website Vietnam News that they had decided to donate her organs as a way of thanking Vietnam for their daughter’s happy memories there.
Mr Wates said: ‘Vietnam was a country she loved, so to give back is very important to us.’
He is a director of the Wates building firm, which was established in 1897, and chairman of the Wates Family Enterprise Trust. Wates is one of Britain’s leading family-owned development companies.
His wife said: ‘Orla was beautiful, independent and very funny, with a sharp wit. She loved to look good and lived life to the full.’
Mrs Wates said she took comfort in knowing her daughter ‘lives on’ after her organs were used to help five other people through liver, kidney and cornea transplants.
+3
View gallery
Orla’s father Andrew Wates is a director of £2.4billion building firm Wates
‘She had the best time here [in Vietnam]. She was loving every minute of it, so it’s our way of thanking you.
‘At this extremely difficult time, we chose to donate Orla’s organs as we believe that if there were a way to give opportunity to others, this is what she would have wanted, ’ Mrs Wates added.
‘Knowing that she is living on through them brings us great comfort.’
In recognition of their selfless act, Vietnam’s minister of health wrote Orla’s parents a letter expressing the country’s gratitude.
+3
View gallery
Motorcyclists are seen riding along the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam (file picture)
A representative from Hanoi’s Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, where Orla died, said: ‘In the face of profound grief, her family made a deeply compassionate decision. The act has moved many.
‘One journey has come to an end, but her life continues quietly and resiliently in others who have been given a second chance.’
The Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam is popular with British backpackers but concerns have been raised about its safety.
Tours usually take between three and four days, with bike riders passing through the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. It features steep mountains, deep valleys and dramatic passes including Ma Pi Leng.
News
Orla Wates, a vibrant 19-year-old from London, tragically died in a motorbike crash on the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam on April 2, 2026. Described as independent, witty, and full of life, Orla’s passing devastated her family, who then made the agonizing choice to donate her organs, saving the lives of several people. But here’s where it gets eerie—this horrific accident is eerily similar to a tragedy that struck the Wates family 30 years ago, a shadow that has loomed over them for decades. Could this just be a coincidence, or is there something far more sinister at play?
Tycoon’s daughter Orla Wates died in gap year tragedy 30 years after her cousin was killed on HIS gap year The death of a building tycoon’s daughter in a motorbike crash in Vietnam is the second gap year tragedy to rock one of Britain’s wealthiest families, the Daily Mail can reveal. Orla Wates, 19, was […]
🚨 “Mom… I just want to come home…” In a hospital room in Vietnam, a young British girl’s life was slipping away. She leaned in close to her mother and whispered, “Mom… I don’t want to die…” There were no final goodbyes, just a quiet plea and a child fighting to hold on. Her parents were faced with an impossible choice—one that would honor her life in the most profound way. Her heart didn’t end that day. It was given a second chance, inside someone else. 👇 Because sometimes, love means letting go, so others can live. 💔
British building tycoon’s teenage daughter, 19, is killed in Vietnam gap year motorbike tragedy A construction tycoon’s teenage daughter has died after a motorbike crash in Vietnam. Orla Wates, 19, whose father is a director of £2.4billion building firm Wates, was on a gap-year trip when the accident happened. She was riding along the Ha […]
🚨 SHOCKING UPDATE: POLICE IDENTIFY INDIVIDUAL BEHIND 19-YEAR-OLD’S DEATH – FINAL PHONE CALL REVEALS ALL 🚨 The mystery is over. Police have named the person responsible for the tragic death of 19-year-old [Name]. Critical evidence has emerged — including a final phone call she made to this person just before everything went wrong. The chilling conversation is now at the center of the investigation. The truth is out, and justice is coming. 👉 Who is the person involved, and what was uncovered in that call? Full details in the comments below 👇
British building tycoon’s teenage daughter, 19, is killed in Vietnam gap year motorbike tragedy A construction tycoon’s teenage daughter has died after a motorbike crash in Vietnam. Orla Wates, 19, whose father is a director of £2.4billion building firm Wates, was on a gap-year trip when the accident happened. She was riding along the Ha […]
🚨 THE HEARTBREAKING STORY OF THE 19-YEAR-OLD BRITISH GIRL WHO SAVED 3 VIETNAMESE LIVES: DAUGHTER OF A CEO, WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? 🚨 Orla Wates, a 19-year-old British teen, was the daughter of a powerful building tycoon. She came to Vietnam full of life, but a tragic motorbike accident ended her journey. In her final moments, Orla made an incredible decision to donate her organs, saving the lives of three people. But the question remains: What caused this promising young woman to leave us so soon? 📌 Full story in the comments.
British building tycoon’s teenage daughter, 19, is killed in Vietnam gap year motorbike tragedy A construction tycoon’s teenage daughter has died after a motorbike crash in Vietnam. Orla Wates, 19, whose father is a director of £2.4billion building firm Wates, was on a gap-year trip when the accident happened. She was riding along the Ha […]
🚨 SUSPICIONS GROW AS FAMILY QUESTIONS WIFE’S DISAPPEARANCE IN THE BAHAMAS 🚨 Lynette Hooker’s daughter is now speaking out, questioning the story told by her father. She points out that her mother was an experienced sailor and swimmer—how could she have fallen overboard so easily? Even more disturbing, new evidence has surfaced suggesting past tension in the couple’s relationship, raising serious doubts about the truth. Was this a tragic accident or something darker? The investigation continues to unfold, and the answers might be more unsettling than anyone imagined. 📌 Full story in the comments.
What we know about recovery mission for American woman who reportedly fell overboard in the Bahamas An error has occurred. Please contact support for more assistance. Authorities in the Bahamas have moved to a recovery operation in their search for an American woman who reportedly fell overboard during a boat trip with her husband Saturday night, local […]
🚨 MYSTERY AT SEA: WOMAN MISSING IN THE BAHAMAS, HUSBAND UNDER SUSPICION 🚨 A 56-year-old woman has gone missing at sea in the Bahamas, with her boat keys found abandoned—leading to the engine shutting off. But the most shocking part? Her husband is now the main suspect, and investigators are focusing on suspicious behavior he exhibited that fateful night. Did something more sinister unfold between them? The clues are mounting, and the family is demanding answers. Is her husband hiding the truth, or was this truly an accident? The mystery deepens. 📌 Full story in the comments.
What we know about recovery mission for American woman who reportedly fell overboard in the Bahamas An error has occurred. Please contact support for more assistance. Authorities in the Bahamas have moved to a recovery operation in their search for an American woman who reportedly fell overboard during a boat trip with her husband Saturday night, local […]
End of content
No more pages to load
