A 19-year-old British woman whose father directs a major construction firm has saved three lives through organ donation following a devastating motorbike accident in Vietnam.
Orla Wates’ Journey and Crash
Orla Wates, described by family as beautiful, independent, and quick-witted, was backpacking through Southeast Asia ahead of starting at Durham University. During a multi-day motorbike tour on the scenic Ha Giang Loop—known for its winding mountain roads in northern Vietnam—her bike crashed. Investigations continue into the cause, but witnesses indicate she rode as a passenger when the driver lost control. She was thrown onto the road and struck by a lorry.
Orla passed away on April 2 at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital in Hanoi, with her parents, Andrew and Henrietta Wates from London, at her bedside.
Life-Saving Organ Donation
Andrew and Henrietta authorized the donation of their daughter’s liver, kidneys, and corneas, which transplanted successfully into three critically ill Vietnamese patients at the hospital.
Henrietta Wates shared: “Orla was beautiful, independent and very funny, with a sharp wit. She loved to look good and lived life to the full.” She explained the decision: “At this extremely difficult time for our family, we chose to donate Orla’s organs, as we believe that if there were a way to give opportunity to others, this is what Orla would have wanted. Knowing that she is living on through them brings us great comfort.”
A hospital representative praised the family’s compassion: “In the face of profound grief, her family made a deeply compassionate decision that transcended nationality and race to donate her organs, giving others a chance at life. The act has moved many, as her gift now offers hope to patients suffering from organ failure in Vietnam. One journey has come to an end, but her life continues quietly and resiliently in others who have been given a second chance.”
Dangers of Ha Giang Loop
The Ha Giang Loop attracts tourists for its stunning vistas, yet it poses significant risks. Recent incidents include a French woman and Spanish man killed in a 2018 motorbike collision with a lorry trailer, and another Spanish man who drove off a cliff in 2017.
