Bodies of Christian Sloan and two women recovered near Datanla waterfall as police question unauthorised tour guide

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Three British tourists have died in a climbing accident with an unauthorised tour guide in Vietnam.

The bodies of Christian Sloan, a 25-year-old from Kent, and two women – named in media reports as 19-year-old Izzy Squire and 25-year-old Beth Anderson – were found near the Datanla waterfall, a popular tourist spot in Lam Dong province.

The trio’s 26-year-old guide reportedly told authorities the tourists were swimming with life jackets near the waterfall when they were swept up in strong waters and dragged over the precipice.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Christian Sloan, who was described as someone who ‘lived for life’.

In a tribute issued on Friday night, 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. He lived for life.”

Sloan, from Deal in Kent, is believed to have met the two women while travelling.

Vo Anh Tan, deputy director of the Lam Dong tourist company that manages the Datanla waterfall, told local media that an unauthorised tour guide was being questioned by police.



Tan claimed the Britons’ 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.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Beth Anderson, 24, and Izzy Squire, 19, who met Christian Sloan while travelling. Photograph: pixel8000

The bodies, reportedly found with lifejackets on, were recovered downstream from the waterfall by emergency rescue crews.

The Foreign Office said: “We are providing support to the families of three British nationals following their deaths near Dalat, Vietnam.



“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.”

Visitors usually start at the top of the tiered waterfall, which is popular among western tourists. The waterfall boasts beautiful scenery and a cable car to take visitors to the summit if they choose not to walk up a steep verge.

It is just more than three miles from the resort city of Dalat, known as the “city of eternal spring” for its temperate climate, which is about 100 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City.

French colonists built the hill station using Vietnamese forced labour in the mistaken belief that its cool weather would prevent them from contracting malaria.

The area is known as a kitschy destination for honeymooners, families and budget travellers seeking day trips, hikes and adventure sports. It is also the administrative capital of Lam Dong province.