Two boys, 15, among the dead in Essex lorry tragedy

8 November 2019, 13:58

Two boys aged just 15 were among those found dead in the back of a lorry in Essex, police revealed today.

Essex Police revealed a list of the names of those found dead in the container which was shipped from Belgium to Essex.

The Vietnamese victims were all formally identified with work carried out in collaboration with authorities in Vietnam.

The senior officer in overall charge of the investigation Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said:

“This was an incredibly important process and our team has been working hard to bring answers to worried families who fear their loved one may be among those whose tragic journey ended on our shores.

“Our priority has been to identify the victims, to preserve the dignity of those who have died and to support the victims’ friends and families.

“It remained of paramount importance to us to ensure that an individual’s next of kin were informed, and that they were given some time to absorb this tragic news before we publicly confirmed their loved one’s identity.

“We have worked closely with the National Crime Agency, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Vietnamese Authorities to identify and locate their families.

Among the dead are two 15-year-old boys, and a 17-year-old boy.

The two 15-year-old boys were identified as Dinh Dinh Binh from Hai Phong and Nguyen Huy Hung from Ha Tinh.

26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My who sent a final text message home saying she could not breathe was also confirmed to be among the dead.