Five months ago, a packed trip through Hà Giang ended safely… or so it seemed
Twisting mountain roads, near misses, moments that could’ve turned dark in seconds…
The driver thought it was skill that got them through
But a recent story changed everything… and it’s deeply unsettling
Why did one journey end in relief… and another in tragedy?
📌 Full story in the comments
Daughter of British building tycoon killed in Vietnam motorbike crash
Teenager’s organs donated to five transplant patients ‘to give something back to a country she loved’
Albert Tait is a general News Reporter for The Telegraph, covering a range of topics including crime, defence and social affairs. See more
Orla Wates, 19, was riding pillion when the driver of the motorbike lost control
A British building tycoon’s teenage daughter has died following a motorbike crash in Vietnam during her gap year.
Orla Wates, whose father is a director of the £2.4bn Wates building firm, was thrown off the back of the motorcycle when the driver lost control.
The 19-year-old, who had been planning to start a degree at Durham University, had been travelling on the Ha Giang Loop, a popular motorcycle route in northern Vietnam. She was taken to the Viet Duc Friendship Hospital in Hanoi but died on Thursday.
Her parents, Andrew and Henrietta Wates, released her organs for transplants, saving the lives of five critically ill Vietnamese patients.
Andrew Wates, whose construction company is based in Surrey, reportedly received a letter of gratitude from Vietnam’s health minister for releasing his daughter’s organs
In a video posted on the hospital’s Facebook page, Mr Wates said: “Vietnam was a country she loved, so to give back to Vietnam is very important to us.”
His wife said: “She had the best time here, and she was loving every minute of it. So it is our way of thanking you.”
It is understood their daughter was riding pillion on the bike when she was thrown to the ground and run over by an oncoming truck, causing extensive injuries. The cause of last week’s accident is still under investigation.
She was treated in intensive care but died with her parents at her bedside on Thursday. Her liver, two kidneys and two corneas were donated to patients at the hospital.
The Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam is mountainous with steep climbs, sharp bends and narrow roads Credit: Hans Gert Broeder
Mrs Wates told Viet Nam News: “We would like to thank Dr Trịnh Van Dong and the ICU team at the hospital who cared for Orla.
“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.”
A representative from the Viet Duc Friendship Hospital said: “In the face of profound grief, her family made a deeply compassionate decision that transcended nationality and race – to donate her organs, giving others a chance at life.
“The act has moved many, as her gift now offers hope to patients suffering from organ failure in Vietnam. One journey has come to an end, but her life continues quietly and resiliently in others who have been given a second chance.”
In recognition of her parents’ actions, Dao Hong Lan, Vietnam’s minister of health, reportedly wrote a letter expressing her condolences and gratitude.
A Foreign Office spokesman 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.”