- Bodies of 25-year-old Christian Sloan and two unidentified women ages 19 and 25, were found near the Datanla waterfall
- Police suggest that the tourists may have slipped while trying to climb the waterfall without safety equipment
- Reports said an unauthorized tour guide was being questioned by police regarding the accident
LAM DONG PROVINCE, Vietnam – Three British tourists died in a climbing accident while being guided by an unauthorized tour guide on the way to a famous tourist spot in Vietnam.
An article by Josh Halliday and Calvin Godfrey for The Guardian published on February 26 said that the bodies of 25-year-old Christian Sloan and two unidentified women ages 19 and 25, were found near the Datanla waterfall in Lam Dong province.
Initial investigation of police suggests that the tourists may have slipped while trying to climb the waterfall without safety equipment.
“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. He lived for life,” said Sloan’s family in a statement thay have given.
BBC News said in their article published on February 26 that police officials believed that Sloan met the two women while travelling around Vietnam.
Datanla waterfall is managed by the Lam Dong joint-stock tourist company. Deputy Director Vo Anh Tan of Lam Dong joint-stock tourist company told local media that an unauthorized tour guide was being questioned by police regarding the accident.
Photo Credit: The Sun
Tan claimed that the victims’ tour had been arranged by a local private tour operator who did not pay for entrance tickets nor use the company’s safety equipment.
“The incident is beyond our supervision, but we are still trying to help deal with this tragedy,” he was quoted by the state-run Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper,” Tan said.
Julian Robinson for Mail Online published on February 26 said that the bodies, which found wearing lifejackets were recovered downstream from the waterfall by emergency rescue crews. Local media has reported that the guide had shared to the police that as the trio had descended towards a stream they became caught in rapids and drowned.
“We are providing support to the families of three British nationals following their deaths near Dalat, Vietnam,” one foreign official said.
“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,” he added.
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