A YOUNG Vietnamese woman who texted her mum "I'm dying" while in a freezing container with 38 others had been deported from Britain just days earlier, her family has claimed.

Pham Thi Tra My, 26, is thought to be among the dead stowaways tragically discovered in a freezer lorry trailer in Essex after messaging "I can't breathe. Mum, I'm very sorry."

11 Pham Tra My, 26, is believed to have been on the doomed lorry Credit: Universal News & Sport (Europe)

11 She sent haunting texts to her family, saying 'I'm dying because I can't breathe'

Her brother today told Vietnamese media it was the second time the young woman had been trafficked to Britain after they paid smugglers £30,000.

And her family had begged her not to carry out the difficult journey, but she had decided to take the risk so she could find a job to help pay back the huge debt.

Pham's brother said: "She was arrested a few days ago [in Britain] and they returned her to France. Now we heard she might have died."

Her dad added: "We tried to talk her out of it because it would be a very difficult journey - but she said: 'If I don't go, the family would stay in a difficult situation because of the debt'.

"So she took a risk and we had to agree. We are in shock. I cannot explain our pain. We were all devastated. If I had known she would go by this route, I would not have let her go."

They said they had believed they had paid the vast amounts of money for her to travel the "VIP route" which would see her travel in a car.

But instead, they fear she is among the eight women and 31 men found dead in Grays, Essex, after the container travelled through the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium.

The last time they heard from her, the young woman texted: "I’m sorry Mum, my path to abroad didn’t succeed.

"Mum, I love you and Dad so much! I’m dying because I can’t breathe.”

Her family haven't heard from her since, with a spokesperson from the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK confirming Essex Police had been in contact.

DRIVER REMANDED IN CUSTODY

Today, lorry driver Mo Robinson was remanded in custody after being charged with manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic.

The 25-year-old, from Northern Ireland, was quizzed for more than 72 hours by cops after he picked up the trailer from Purfleet, Essex.

Just 20 minutes later, the grisly discovery of the eight women and 31 men in the back of the death-trap lorry was made on an industrial estate in Grays at around 1.40am.

The names of eight suspected victims feared dead by their families, include Pham Tra My, 26, Hung Nguyen, 33, Anna Bui Thi Nhung, 19, Nguyen Dinh Tu, 26, Le Van Ha, 30, Vo Ngoc Nam, 28, Joseph Nguyen Dinh Luong, 20, and Hoang Van Tiep, 18.

The family of Nguyen Huy Hung, who is just 15, has also expressed fears he may have been in the container - saying they hadn't been able to contact him since he was supposed to have left for the UK.

It is believed his parents are already in England and had paid £10,000 to get their youngest son into the country.

Anna Bui Thi Nhung, 19, is also feared to be one of the youngest victims found in the freezing lorry.

11 Nguyen Van Hung last messaged his parents on October 21, telling them he was 'going by taxi' to the UK Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 Nguyen Huy Hung's family said they had not heard from him since he was supposed to have left for the UK

11 The bodies of 39 people were found inside the container in Essex Credit: PA:Press Association

11

11 Anna Bui Thi Nhung had wanted to work at a nail bar Credit: Facebook

The teen, who wanted to work at a nail bar, is believed to have travelled through China before arriving in Germany then onto Belgium where she is believed to have boarded the doomed truck.

But Reuters reported that during her travels, she posted on Facebook: "I feel lonely in the place I used to dream of everyday."

She later wrote: "Back in Vietnam, I thought Europe was pink. But it turns out it’s black."

Some migrants are said to have died banging on the truck’s walls after it travelled through the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

Many were naked or had minimal clothing, say sources.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson today wrote a message in the condolence book for those found dead, saying: "The whole nation and indeed the world which has been shocked by this tragedy."

The Vietnamese Embassy in London has today set up a channel to liaise with Essex Police as they work to identify victims.

The country's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has since ordered an investigation into alleged human trafficking activities.

The Home Office said they were unable to comment as identities were yet to be confirmed.

11 Le Minh Tuan, father of feared victim Le Van Ha, cries as he holds his grandson in his arms Credit: AFP or licensors

Pham Thi Tra My, 26, is feared to be among those on the doomed Essex lorry

Relatives of Joseph Nguyen Dinh Luong, 20, have also said they fear he is among the 39 victims

11 Nguyen Dinh Gia, father of Vietnamese Joseph Nguyen Dinh Luong, is supported by a friend Credit: Reuters

11 Nguyen Dinh Tu was believed to have been in the lorry Credit: Reuters

11 Vo Nhan Du has been reported missing on Facebook Credit: Facebook

The lorry where 39 migrants were tragically found after crossing into the UK Credit: Paul Edwards - The Sun