A British teenager has tragically died following a motorbike crash in northern Vietnam, with her family making the compassionate decision to donate her organs, saving the lives of five critically ill patients in Hanoi.
Details of the Accident and Aftermath
Orla Wates, a 19-year-old from the UK who was about to start university, was involved in a fatal accident on Thursday while travelling on the Ha Giang Loop, a mountainous road in Vietnam. She was riding pillion on the back of a motorcycle when the driver lost control, leading to the crash. Orla was rushed to Hanoi's Viet Duc Friendship Hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Family's Heartbreaking Decision
In the face of profound grief, Orla's parents, Andy and Henrietta Wates, chose to donate her organs for transplants. Her liver, two kidneys, and two corneas were successfully transplanted to five Vietnamese patients, offering them a second chance at life. The family expressed that this act was in line with Orla's generous spirit, believing she would have wanted to help others.
Mr. Wates, a director of the £2.4 billion Wates building firm and chairman of the Wates Family Enterprise Trust, shared his daughter's love for Vietnam, stating that giving back to the country was very important to them. Mrs. Wates added that knowing Orla lives on through others brings them great comfort during this extremely difficult time.
Orla's Life and Legacy
Orla was described by her father as beautiful, independent, and very funny, with a sharp wit. She loved to look good and lived life to the full. She was on a gap-year trip in Vietnam, a country she adored, and was soon due to start a degree course at Durham University. Her mother noted that she had the best time in Vietnam and was loving every minute of it.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation by local authorities. The Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, where Orla was treated, is Vietnam's largest surgical centre, founded in 2011 with over 500 beds and 18 surgery rooms, capable of performing more than 800 open-heart operations annually.
A representative from the hospital praised the family's decision, calling it a deeply compassionate act that transcended nationality and race, moving many and offering hope to patients suffering from organ failure in Vietnam.
