TWO Brits have died in a horror motorbike crash in Vietnam – as a devastated family desperately tries to raise the funds to bring their son’s body home.
Denver Barfield, 24, from Beaumont Leys, Leicester, and Beth Thompson, were riding through Hoi An when they collided with a power pole in the early hours of May 16.
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Cops in Vietnam told local news website Viet Nam News that Beth, from Essex, and Denver were travelling from Hoi An to Dien Ban Commune when the tragedy happened.
It has not yet been confirmed who was driving the bike or if any other vehicles were involved.
Denver’s mum Desby Clayton said she had been “bombarded” with messages and horrific images of the crash from someone claiming to be a coroner in Vietnam.
She also says she was told to pay £10,000 for her son’s body to be shipped back to the UK or risk him being cremated.
Desby told Leicestershire Live: “My baby had his whole life ahead of him.”
She has been unable, as yet, to confirm whether the requests from the alleged coroner are legitimate but she is terrified she could lose her son’s body.
Denver was due to start a graduate job in London in July having gained a masters degree from Aston University.
His friend Beth had been studying at the University of Leicester for a masters degree.
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Denver, along with two friends had flown out to Thailand on April 9 and arrived in Vietnam by train a week later, where he last spoke with his mum.
Desby said: “He was meant to be off to Cambodia and then Bali before finishing off in Perth. He was starting his new graduate job in London on the second week of July.
“On the Saturday he rang me and said he booked a sleep train which cost him £40.
“He said he went for the luxury one because the standard one was sold out, and how he was happy to get some good sleep. It was the last time I spoke to him.”
An appeal set up on JustGiving has already raised £7,000 with the hopes Denver can be brought home “where he belongs”.
Desby explained that while her son did have travel insurance, the family do not have the details including the name of the company with which the policy was taken out.
She added that Denver’s friend in Vietnam has not been able to find the documents and has not been given access to his belongings.
She was informed by Leicestershire Police of her son’s death after they visited her home at 11am on Monday.
Just two hours later, someone claiming to be a coroner contacted her via WhatsApp, asking for payment for the storage, embalming and transportation of his body and possessions.
Desby described her son as having an “enthusiasm for life” and was passionate, quirky and loving.
The family is currently waiting to hear back from the Foreign Office, but Desby said they had not yet been told “exactly what happened”.
Speaking about the message she had received from the apparent coroner, Desby said: “We were told Denver had passed away in a road traffic collision along with another girl. But just as I was processing what was happening, I received a message from the coroner asking me if I knew my son had died.
“I asked him to ring me, but he couldn’t. He told me which offices he was from and sent me a link to sign some forms before asking me what I wanted to do with my baby’s body. I told him I needed him to come home to me, but he said there was going to be a big bill.”
When she questioned the cost, she was told it would be $12,500 just for transportation with the alternative offer of cremating Denver’s body and sending back his ashes if payment was not received.
Having explained that the family didn’t know the travel insurance provider, she was told: “You pay me now and you claim back off them after. Insurance takes too long [sic]. You need to do this.”
Desby begged the man not to do that, adding that she just wanted him back home.
Cops advised her not to respond to any further messages but shortly before 2am this morning she says she was “bombarded” with more.
She claims she was sent newspaper clippings with “vulgar” images of the crash site showing the bodies.
In a panic that they would do something to his body she messaged back saying he definitely had travel insurance but he continued to talk about the bill.
Desby said: “He said it needs to be paid. But he said no, that I have to pay upfront and that travel insurance will take too long to send his body back and I can claim the money back later. He told me it will take six days for his body to come.”
She has since stopped replying but has now received a bill from the number.
Desby added: “The longer he stays the more expensive it’s going to be. I’m scared they’ve done something to my son’s body without my permission.”
The case has been transferred to the province-level police to carry out further investigations.
Anyone wanting to make a donation can find the JustGiving page here.
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