A young Galway woman has died tragically in a water accident in Vietnam just days after arriving in the country.
Twenty-three-year-old Tara Sheridan from Maree, Oranmore was just a few weeks into a year out travelling abroad when she died last week after getting caught in the current while swimming in Vietnam. It is believed Ms Sheridan and her two travelling companions, who were travelling through Southeast Asia en route to Australia, had arrived in the country less than a week when the accident occurred.
The alarm was raised on Thursday by Ms Sheridan’s friends after she went missing while out for a swim, it is believed the strong currents pulled her deep out into the sea. Her body was discovered near a beach the following morning and identified by her friends, who were said to be in “a state of shock and deeply distressed” by the events.
Amongst the hundreds of poignant messages left by friends on the young woman’s Bebo profile, there are two albums of photos of her and her travelling companions enjoying themselves in Bangkok less than 30 days ago.
Described as a “bubbly girl” Ms Sheridan was well known in the Maree area where she was a popular server to the locals at the Thatch bar, as well as actively involved with the Oranbay 90 Ladies soccer team.
Ms Sheridan is survived by her parents Michael and Ann, and her brother Gavin. The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed they are providing consular assistance to the family.