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Vietnam waterfall deaths: Tributes paid to three Britons

27 February 2016
From the sectionUK
Image copyrightFamily handoutImage captionIsobel Mackensie Squire (L) and Beth Anderson

Tributes have been paid to two sisters from Sheffield who were found dead near a waterfall in Vietnam.

Beth Anderson, 24, and Isobel Mackensie Squire, 19, had been living "a life of adventure", their family said, adding: "Two bright lights have gone out."

Their bodies were found alongside that of Christian Sloan, from Kent, whose family said he had "lived for life".

Officials say they were near Datanla falls, Lam Dong province, when one may have slipped, taking the others down.

"According to our initial investigation, after visiting the Datanla waterfalls, they went to the forest to another area for canyoning," a Vietnamese official said.

"On their way, they passed through a stream which flowed into a waterfall. Unfortunately a person slipped, taking the other two with them," he added.Image copyrightFamily handoutImage captionThe women died alongside Christian Sloan, from Kent

The women's family, from the Ecclesall area of Sheffield, said their lives would never be the same again.

"Two bright lights have gone out. They shone brightly for 24 and 19 years for everyone who loved and adored them and everyone who came into contact with them," they said in a statement.

"Beth and Izzy were living a life of adventure and did so right to the end."
'Sad loss'

The sisters were almost seven weeks into a trip to South East Asia.

Mr Sloan's family said: "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."Image copyrightIzzy SquireImage captionMs Mackensie Squire and Ms Anderson were seven weeks into a trip to South East Asia

James McGlashan, who had been travelling with Mr Sloan, wrote on Facebook to say he was on his way to Ho Chi Minh City and thanked people for the messages that had been flooding in.

"Thank you for all your support. Devastated RIP Sloan."

His father Alan, from Deal in Kent, said his son had not gone on the waterfalls tour because he had been ill. He later had to identify the bodies at the hotel he was staying in.
Safety helmets

Alan McGlashan said the trip had been booked through the hotel with a tour company that had had excellent reviews.

Nguyen Van Yen, deputy chairman of Lam Dong province, who was in charge of the operation to recover the bodies, said they had found helmets and safety jackets along with the three bodies, but no ropes.

The local man who was with them was questioned by police but has not been detained, he added.

The three bodies are being moved from Lam Dong province to Ho Chi Minh City.

The UK Foreign Office said it was supporting the Britons' families.

"Our sympathies are with their families and friends at this difficult time. We are in close contact with local authorities in Vietnam on their behalf," a statement said.

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