British boy, 12, dies after being pulled from swimming pool during family holiday to Vietnam
British boy, 12, dies after being pulled from swimming pool during family holiday to Vietnam
- Otis Walder-Robb, 12, was on a family vacation to Vietnam during a summer camp
- He was found in a swimming pool and rushed to hospital, where he later died
A British boy has died after being pulled from a swimming pool during a family holiday in Vietnam.
Otis Walder-Robb, 12, was staying in Vietnam with his father Stephen Walder, stepmother Liz Robb and sister Betty, six, when he suffered a “tragic accident” on July 7, a family friend said.
He was found in a swimming pool and pulled out of the water by four other children and rushed to hospital where he later died, according to family friend Rebecca Wegmann.
The family reportedly lives in Pai, Thailand, and a GoFundMe page was launched to help cover funeral and travel expenses.
Family friend Gemma Anjamanee Piya Tora Lewis, who set up the fundraiser, said they are waiting to fly back to Bangkok, Thailand.
Otis Walder-Robb (pictured), 12, was in Vietnam with his father Stephen Walder, stepmother Liz Robb and sister Betty, six, when he had a ‘tragic accident’ on July 7.
He was found in a swimming pool and pulled from the water by four other children and rushed to hospital, where he later died. Pictured (L-R): Sister Betty, six, stepmother Liz Robb, Otis, and father Stephen Walder
In a post on the fundraising page, Ms. Lewis said: ‘Otis Walder-Robb was 12 years old when he took his last breath on 7/7/2023 at 7:57pm. We are sorry to inform that his death was a sudden result of a tragic accident.
“There is sadness and deep sorrow in the hearts of the family, and a growing community is in mourning.
“We want to use all funds for Otis’s funeral and memorial service, and to cover all travel and health care costs to get him, his sister Betty, and his parents Steven and Liz back to their home soil, meaning the family and their community.” . can celebrate and hold ceremony for his life.’
She added: “The family was temporarily in Vietnam due to work at a children’s summer camp.
“We are all desperate to get their 6-year-old daughter back to our community so she can be in a familiar environment with friends who miss her dearly.”
Tributes poured in for the 12-year-old, with one man calling him an “incredible boy” and another describing him as “such a vibrant young man.”
Stephen Walder, Otis’ father, is now suffering the third loss of his life following the death of his wife in 2017 and their son Reuben who died of a brain tumor in 2020.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British child who died in Vietnam and are in contact with local authorities.”
Tributes poured in for the 12-year-old, with one man calling him an “incredible boy” and another describing him as “such a vibrant young man”