Tragedy in Tourist Hotspot

Britons die in Vietnam boat accident

Two Britons drowned after their boat capsized in a popular tourist spot in Vietnam. Tim Roney, 21, and Karen Puddifoot, 27, were among five people who died when the vessel sank in HaLong Bay last Thursday evening. Among them were two Vietnamese and one Frenchman.

A tropical storm overturned the 'junk' boat on its way back to port following a routine trip around HaLong Bay’s famous limestone peaks.

Sunny Bui, of Cruise HaLong, a local tour operator, said a disaster of this scale was unheard of: “There was no warning. This was a whirlwind that only lasted for 15 or 20 minutes and no one knew about it.”

Roney, of Hertordshire, and Puddifoot, of Northwood, London, had been on a round-the-world cycle ride since June, raising money for the British Lung Foundation. The pair aimed to cycle 21,000miles through 12 countries during the 13-month-long expedition.

Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, Dame Helena Shovelton said: “We are very saddened to hear the news... Our thoughts and condolences are with their families at this very difficult time.”

During the short storm, water engulfed the boat before breaking it apart. The surviving 25 tourists and seven crew members were rescued from the choppy waters by nearby boats before being treated in hospital for shock and hypothermia.

HaLong Bay, situated in the Gulf of Tonkin, in the South China Sea is Vietnam’s most visited natural tourist destination. A UNESCO-World Heritage Site, the 1553km2 area consists of 1,969 limestone islands and colossal caves.

Tourist agencies send out countless junk boats a day to cruise around these jutting peaks, and allow visitors to kayak and swim in its deep waters.

The boat had been missing for an hour when the extreme weather struck, failing to return to the port before it became dark. It is thought that tourists swimming delayed its departure.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.