Britons on round-world charity trip drown as boat capsizes

Two British friends cycling around the world for charity drowned when a tourist boat carrying them capsized in storms.

Tim Roney, 21, and Karen Puddifoot, 27, died when the boat sank during heavy rain and strong winds in Halong Bay, off the coast of Vietnam.

Ms Puddifoot's brother Chris had also been travelling with the pair on a 13-month round-the-world trip to raise money for the British Lung Foundation in memory of a close friend who had died recently of respiratory illness.

A French man and two Vietnamese people also died on Thursday evening, while other passengers were treated in hospital for shock and hypothermia.

The British friends, from Northwood, set off on their trip in June and aimed to cycle 21,000 miles through 12 countries. Before leaving Mr Roney, a ski instructor, said: "I've always dreamed of doing something like this. A few people have told me I must be mad but this is the biggest adventure of my life." They had planned to cover 50 miles every day and spend the rest of the time exploring.

Today the family of the two friends said their deaths had left a "huge hole" in their lives. In a statement Mr Roney's family said: "Tim was extremely sociable, talented and adventurous and always had a smile on his face."

When he was 18 Mr Roney went mountain climbing in Ethiopia to raise money for the Youth Hostel Association. Ms Puddifoot's family said: "She was talented, hard working, independent, strong-willed and brave. Losing Karen has left a deep hole in our family." A former Watford Grammar School for Girls pupil, Ms Puddifoot studied at Wimbledon School of Art before working in the film industry.

An investigation has been launched after reports suggest the boat was neither insured nor allowed to operate after dark.