British sisters who died in Vietnam waterfall climb were 'shining lights'

A guide in charge of a tour in which three British backpackers died has said they were swept away after ignoring safety warnings.

Half sisters Beth Anderson, 24, and Isobel Mackensie Squire,19, died along with fellow Briton Christian Sloan, 25, in an accident during a waterfall climb.

Their guide, Dang Van Sy, said the trio were killed after they ignored warnings to stay away from fast-flowing waters, in an interview with the English-language website Tuoitre News.

Mr Sy said that he had rushed to the edge of the water and instructed the women to stand up in the hope they could get out, but they were also swept away moments later.

• Tributes to sisters killed in Vietnam waterfall climb

Two British women who died during a waterfall climb in Vietnam are half-sisters, ITV News understands.

The girls, believed to be Beth Anderson and Isobel Mackensie Squire, died along with another Brit Christian Sloan as they trekked along the Datanla Waterfalls in the Lam Dong province.

It has been reported the trio may have been with an unauthorised tour guide when the tragedy happened.

The family have paid tribute to them saying: "Two bright lights have gone out. They shone brightly for 24 and 19 years for everyone who loved and adored them and everyone who came into contact with them.

“Sisters, Beth and Izzy were living a life of adventure and did so, right to the end.”

The family of Vietnam waterfall victim Christian Sloan have said he "lived for life".

The 25-year-old from Deal in Kent was one of three British tourists who died at the popular Datanla Waterfalls in the Lam Dong province.

A statement from the Sloan 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."

Harness failure could be to blame for the deaths of three British tourists in Vietnam, a family friend of victim Christian Sloan has told ITV News.

Alan McGlashan said he had spoken to his son James, who had been travelling with Mr Sloan since January 4.

He said: "The message I got was there had been a harness failure when they were on the waterfall.

"I wasn't sure if it meant they were zip-wiring or climbing, but at this moment in time that's all I know, that there was a harness failure, and they fell and drowned."

Mr McGlashan said he could not speculate if the victims' harnesses had been linked together.

His son James had been meant to go on the trip but couldn't as he was ill.

One of the British tourists who died climbing a waterfall in Vietnam has been named locally as Christian Sloan.

The 25-year-old from Deal in Kent died along with two women, aged 19 and 25, at the Datanla Waterfalls in the Lam Dong province.

Local reports suggest the three were with an unauthorised guide when the tragedy happened.