Tragedy as British teenager Orla Wates killed in motorbike crash in Vietnam

Tragedy as British teenager Orla Wates killed in motorbike crash in VietnamOrla Wates, who was about to start university in the UK, came off a bike in northern Vietnam and died of her injuries on Thursday at Hanoi's Viet Duc Friendship HospitalNewsBradley Jolly Overnight News Editor04:04, 08 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesOrla Wates died following a motorbike crash in Vietnam(Image: Wates Family)A British teenager has died following a motorbike crash in Vietnam.‌Orla Wates, 19, was rushed to hospital following the accident during her gap year in the country, but doctors were unable to save the woman. Orla, whose father is a director of £2.4billion building firm Wates, was travelling on the Ha Giang Loop, a mountain road, when the crash happened.‌It is believed her organs have been donated for transplants, saving the lives of five critically ill Vietnamese patients. The teen's parents, Andy and Henrietta Wates, spoke of their grief following Thursday's tragedy. Mr Wates, understood to be from Surrey, said: "Orla was beautiful, independent and very funny, with a sharp wit. She loved to look good and lived life to the full."‌The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but it is understood that Orla was riding pillion on the back of a motorcycle when the driver lost control.READ MORE: Tragedy as body of missing Declan Berry discovered in River Nene after crashREAD MORE: Fitness influencer's poignant final selfie hours before her death in motorbike crashView 2 ImagesThe Ha Giang loop, pictured, is a mountainous road in Vietnam (file image)(Image: Getty Images)‌Mrs Wates told of making the decision to allow her organs to be used to help other patients at Hà Nội's Việt Đức Friendship Hospital. She told Viet Nam News: "We would like to thank Dr Trịnh Văn Đồng 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 we...