Essex lorry deaths: The journey and story of one Vietnamese woman who died trying to get to the UK

“I love you so much. I'm dying bcoz I can't breathe. I am sorry Mum." (Subscribe: bit.ly/C4_News_Subscribe)
A message sent by a 26-year-old woman called Pham Thi Tra My as she died inside a lorry container en route to Britain last year.
She was one of 39 Vietnamese people who were found dead in the back of the container in Essex.
Today, two men were found guilty of multiple counts of manslaughter.
Along with two other men, they were also found guilty of their involvement in a people smuggling ring.
Earlier this year, the leader of the ring and another lorry driver admitted to their involvement.
This programme has been told that the smuggling ring was bringing people across to the UK by lorry on a weekly basis - at least 50 crossings or attempted crossings a year.
Over the last few months, we've tried to piece together the story of one of the people who suffocated to death in the darkness of that container. The story of 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My.
Paraic O'Brien reports.
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[@svlagonda7417]

Those traffickers should be given life sentences for exploiting people like this.

[@greenpenguin7877]

And the families should be given sentences for paying to have their kids smuggled.

[@micahharris311]

@@greenpenguin7877 you are ignorant.

[@victoriaacmiller6797]

@@micahharris311 could not have said it better!

[@marynguyen6703]

@@greenpenguin7877 for the better life. I'm sure they will be waiting to do propper papers to make it right and be an asset to wherever they went. Their goals are to send money to their loved ones.

[@TheBlueCream]

@@marynguyen6703 they messed up..no excuses

[@NgocHan-gy8mz]

Couldn’t hold my tears when the mother was weeping “I can’t take it anymore” , understanding Vietnamese made it even worse, almost unbearable

[@trewens]

This is very hard to watch. The detail about the vapour is a bit too much.

[@lovelylovelylauren]

It was the detail drawings of the body layout that broke me. Especially the ones facing each other.

[@tweetyq3352]

The vapour of those sad souls were released when the door opened. My heartbreaks to think how they suffered a terrifying death of slowly suffocating in a metal tomb by the sheer greed of these smugglers. So tragic 😭

[@laughter95]

I learned about this story last year. I read about it some in the Vietbamese media. But I was busy at the time and didn't pay close attention. Last week I watched footage on BBC showing the puff of vapor escaping the lorry when the driver opened the door. And claw marks on the inside. The images have haunted me since. Last year when the story broke, many Vietnamese were saddened and considered what they should do to improve the living situation for some of their citizens so that they wouldn't resort to human trafficking.

[@fadyanassor6934]

A smuggler will not follow you, never is the family members greedyness that drives some kids to seek wealth in any way possible.

[@paulthrutner9114]

No offence but they were breaking the law. Not at all saying they deserved this, not in anyway but if you want to illegally enter a country then it's the risk you take. You live by the sword you die by the sword

[@micahharris311]

@@paulthrutner9114 ignorant. They are people , we are humans. Imagine what kinda life lead them to decide this. They were also connected to these smugglers through alleged "human rights activists". Ask yourself what you would do if your family were at the same peril? I would do anything so my mum didn't have to feel that or do that. These people are only guilty of the love for their family. Humanity sees no borders, but we are greedy are put up borders.

[@mcivor321]

@@paulthrutner9114 horrible thing to say. These people "break the law" because they live in appalling regions of the world with no opportunities. Sure Tony Blair broke the law, entering a illegal war

[@abmong]

I said from the beginning the driver was part of the smuggling operation. He had no reason to stop and open the container before getting to the official destination otherwise.

[@nightforest666]

I cried.. Feel so bad for the victims and their grieving relatives.. Absolutely heartbreaking.

[@aisecream3458]

@Seth wtf you on about? Is heartbreaking that they died so unjustly no matter where they come from 💔💔🥺

[@cyberdudekhany]

@@aisecream3458 👍

[@cyberdudekhany]

@Seth that's media for you!

[@Declan-pg8cg]

@Seth So what exactly did "the media" say about them, and to whom exactly, regarding what?

[@Declan-pg8cg]

@Seth For a start, what relevance do you think this has to your original comment? I don't speak Chinese, so I can't comment on her response. But CCP mouthpieces like Hua Chunying and her colleague Zhoa Lijian are fanatically biased, consistently deceitful and malicious liars, who aren't trusted outside of mainland China, any further than they could be thrown. Besides, if you listened to his question, you'd have noticed that he asked her opinion on why people would leave China in such a risky manner. That's what's called an open ended question, and doesn't imply particular persons or accusations of blame. Again, the CCP are NOT the Chinese people. The Chinese people are an amazingly capable people with a lot to offer and gain from a free exchange with the world. They should not be ruled over under the iron boot of totalitarian scum like the CCP. The sooner they freely govern themselves, the better.

[@mayainactiveemail3986]

This was so sad to watch wow

[@arimax888]

Heartbreaking. The family was clearly not fully aware the conditions she was travelling in because nobody pays that much money (not kurdish,afgan..etc migrants fleeing conflict). The heartless smugglers took hefty fee & yet treated her like nothing. I hope this tragic story teaches others not to take risk

[@aisecream3458]

Her and 38 others 💔💔

[@boxingmonthly]

Ru afghan

[@cosplayshop]

Having working in the Law Enforcement in the US, people do pay to get across the border like this, stashed inside a container, the thing is, the crossing between Mexican-US border is about 2 hours, this take 12...... Also, this type of operation is not for normal job for the trafficked, because it would have been simpler and cheaper to get them a visa and let them overstay in the UK (assuming it's similar working in the US and EU) these people are destined into a variety of illegal profession I don't even want to speculate

[@boxingmonthly]

@Worzal Gummidge??

[@boxingmonthly]

@Worzal Gummidge well your government certainly isn't!!

[@haiwatigere6202]

Been to Vietnam few times. Been approached by women with sob story about family and asking if a) I could lend up to $5000.00 B) help them emigrate C,) marry them and take to west Or variations thereof She was not an innocent victim this girl. Parents were not victims. They were knee deep in illegal stuff and paid for it. They took a gamble they lost. They bear 97% of responsibility. They are not victims.

[@TrangLe-om6jq]

tell me please how you can quantify responsibility like that? People were killed and died in the most unimaginable conditions and you claim they are not victims? What a nazi!

[@emailellis2965]

Very sad and sickening human being let other human being down I wondering why

[@mydanezlondonez8057]

Human exploiting human didn't start yesterday and will not stop tomorrow

[@gumis123PL]

@Seth yours did too

[@anonimofied]

greed and stupidity, its a tragic

[@mokhanx9080]

It sickens me to know that the international community has not put a stop to this madness

[@billbob458]

They don't want it to stop

[@atlaslex]

The economics of this is really confusing. It sounds like they paid somewhere in the neighbourhood of £30,000 for this trip. At a supposed £1600 a month, she’d have to work a year and a half in the UK just to pay that back. That’s totally ignoring living expenses, which are really high in the UK. Factor in living expenses and you’re looking at 3-5 years at least just to start actually earning. Never mind the fact that there’s no way an undocumented nail tech would earn £1600 a month. I find all of this both tragic and kind of confusing. I’m also an immigrant in the UK-here legally, a native English speaker with an advanced degree and I have trouble finding work and making ends meet! I’d be really love to be a fly on the wall during the sales pitch these heartless bastards give these migrants and their families, because the math makes no sense at all! Horrible.

[@alexm566]

students in the US spend a decade or more to pay their college debts, it's not unheard of.

[@laughter95]

Not so sure. But in the US many uneducated, legal Vietnamese immigrants are earning very well ($40-$200k+) as a nail technician or as an owner of a nail salon.

[@jenjones90]

And if £100 a month is the average salary in vietnam then £30K is 25 years salary that they supposedly saved....

[@careyisapighehe]

Lol yes it is stupid but you need to realise that people in these countries (mistakenly) see the US / UK etc as paradises

[@cosplayshop]

That was what we called a "honey pot", basically, everything is a lie. The reality is once they landed in the UK, they would have their passport confiscated and then forced into illegal business (not working illegally but working in illegal businesses).There were another video from ITV which they interview one of these boat people and he ended up working in a cannabis farm. God knows where these people will end up be doing if they were alive, but I am pretty sure it ain't working in a nail bar... People buy into this because they don't know how much you earn in UK or US, they just knew it is better (well, maybe or maybe not I don't know) so they will basically buy into this because they think it can't be worse than in Vietnam.......For most of them tho, it actually was.

[@lukemurphy2238]

Are the puns necessary?

[@judyrobertson5564]

How many billionaires and millionaires does this world need? How many people need clean water, health food, safe housing, clean air?

[@timedone8502]

Thing is Vietnam has many, many billionaires and millionaires. That’s the reason why the poor people are poor, they’ve been looted by their rich fellow countrymen.

[@laughter95]

@@timedone8502 while there are people who've made it without corruption, there are many who made it through corruption.

[@timedone8502]

@@laughter95 Vietnamese millionaires, yes there are ones who made it without corruption. Vietnamese billionaires..well none of them are clean.

[@laughter95]

@@timedone8502 I don't like to paint such a broad brush. I know the guy who built one of the top three major coffee chains in Vietnam with over a hundred stores now. He comes from a humble background and is an honest guy. Not corrupt.

[@timedone8502]

@@laughter95 i know many honest rich people there too but they are not billionaires. Once you are at the billionaire level (like in USD terms), you start dealing with the communist party and its “clean” members. Even if you don’t want anything to do with them, they will still come to you. Sorry I don’t believe Vietnamese billionaires are clean, they simply wouldn’t survive. Tang Minh Phung was one of such case. He tried to be clean and look what happened to him. Anyway this discussion is beside the point of the video.

[@karishmasingh4517]

I’m so sorry :(

[@JimiBegbaaji]

Wow! That person that arrived late must have been besides themselves!

[@rolexmongerthethird]

All involved need to be given life without parole!

[@paulthrutner9114]

No offence but they were breaking the law. Not at all saying they deserved this, not in anyway but if you want to illegally enter a country then it's the risk you take. You live by the sword you die by the sword

[@funnyvidsandalilsinging7713]

Them victims family's deserve compensation

[@greenpenguin7877]

Why? They broke the law.

[@lamlam381]

@@greenpenguin7877 both broke the law. But the killer one is truly wrong

[@lamlam381]

@@greenpenguin7877 youre try to tell me that it is okay to kill someeone who breaks the law?

[@greenpenguin7877]

@@lamlam381 the comment was about compensation for the families. They should not be compensated for trafficking their children.

[@greenpenguin7877]

@@lamlam381 the families and the lorry drivers were both trying to gain monetarily by putting other people in a very dangerous situation. The families are worse in my opinion.

[@oliversparks1459]

Been Waiting to Hear More Of this Horrendous Story

[@thumtlnguyen3626]

Nghe An where she's from is one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam. Local people mostly are farmers or low skilled workers. These people have reputation of being risk taking people, not quite law abiding ones as well. Some companies in the south Vietnam even refuse to employ people coming from this province. I'm not surprised she's from there and her decision trying to get to England illegally at all cost.

[@stevenewton7028]

This is murder not manslaughter.

[@VivalaryMan]

Look up what murder and manslaughter means..

[@cosplayshop]

@@VivalaryMan Depends on where you are in the world. Would have been Felony Murder (Or murder two) in the US, because these people are dead during a crime (felony). Not sure if the UK have the same law, I am guessing, no.

[@tammyot]

Very sad

[@tianyitwins]

Why this way ? Just Applying a student/tourist visa then overstay . At least it’s less cruel and won’t cost people’s lives in most inhumane way :(

[@lucymo6540]

In order for a student visa to be approved, you have to prove that you have enough for living expenses and tuition fees, among other requirements. Considering tuition fees itself are around £18,000 per year for overseas students (depending on the course), it would impossible for her family to prove that they have this and if they could not afford schooling , chances of her being accepted to a UK university would be slim

[@PigSty1985]

On top of what Lucy Mo said, it's required to prove that an individual has about £20k or so in their bank account for a good period of time. Altogether it probably costs more than the smuggling fee

[@dtmorris6157]

According to UKEC, Vietnam is a high risk country. (Student over staying). Thus, visa does not come easy for the vietnamese. Those who can get them, often prove they can. In other words, they are from vietnam elites who likely will go back home.

[@cosplayshop]

Sad truth is, she was never going to work in a nail bar in the UK, you don't earn 1600 GBP a month working in a nail bar (you earn around 1000 and that's if you work legally) and you don't get smuggle in like this if you just going to work in a nail bar.......

[@MEGIDIOT]

11:00 um what? That was a weird thing to say

[@Lia3349]

what solace, I have guessed too..

[@WeAreThePeople1690]

Bit like the reporters head, full of fresh air and light. What a thing to say, they should just stick to reporting the facts and leave their opinions out of it. I used to load that ronan hughes trailer with seafood to go across to belfast a few years ago. Very odd guy not at all suprised he was up to this kind of stuff. Drove like an idiot as well he near wiped a bus out at the end of the industrial estate going far to fast to stop in time just swung out right in front of it.

[@Declan-pg8cg]

Exactly, the story is tragic enough without adding that simple minded attempt at artistic licence.

[@lombardi4]

i liked it

[@benztruck1936]

Idk how u can risk your own kid's life to pay your debts. And they managed to get £16k to send her? Er...

[@xin0]

It's called giving them a future, chance and opportunity. If you live in their condition and in a poor country, you would understand

[@benztruck1936]

@@xin0 Future? She died...Coz of the irresponsible risk they took.

[@xin0]

@@benztruck1936 says the person who doesn't read much about these things. Tell me who would pay £30,000k for this kind of journey??? If they knew the risk, they would take it but would NOT pay that amount! You would only take that risk if you are so desperate. And they were not desperate, because if they were, it means whole of Vietnam is in uproar and everyone wants to leave. Foolish comment from you. They were lied to and taken advantage of, they paid that much money thinking they would have a safe trip, but they were lied to!

[@harrylincoln596]

@@xin0 so what ur saying is they were willing and knowingly breaking laws and trying to take advantage of Britain since when is Vietnam’s problems the UKs

[@dtmorris6157]

@@xin0 Cant argue with ignorant people you know.

[@fakir75]

My condolences

[@Me2yota]

Well done channel 4 for getting people in great bereavement to speak

[@jaccowoerdman8838]

Whatever and why: this was terrible and so sad. Its more then 2 years ago but still hurting to see and remember this. Imagine...dear God. May the victins rest in peace. Hope this will NEVER happen again.

[@vallee3140]

The responder amazed me, she stuck to the standard questions

[@nidan3280]

How long were they in for ? And why weren’t they sending messages to the people who responsible that they’re running out of air. Also why didn’t anyone hear them ?

[@eddietrinh1455]

Rest in peace 🙏

[@ArmandoFeroci]

Rip ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Lantzky_]

What happened whit the driver and his truck?

[@NL-tr7ix]

BBC: “39 found dead in lorry were Chinese nationals” BBC: “What? It’s Vietnamese nationals? Okay let me close the comment section of that clip”

[@TechnoRain]

back to back life sentences should have been given to them smugglers for each person who died

[@krismcstay1325]

Facebook has allowed a support page to stay up of the guilty driver ....sick

[@Organic_Body_Transformer]

Please excuse my ignorance but can somebody explain why there was no ventilation in the lorry?

[@mydanezlondonez8057]

??????????????

[@mydanezlondonez8057]

Because some human species don't care anything than money

[@Organic_Body_Transformer]

@@mydanezlondonez8057 but surely there would have been Airways somewhere?? No?

[@socalledabdullah76]

@@Organic_Body_Transformerno beacause the truck had no vetalation because it was meant for food and stuff so it was air shut

[@Organic_Body_Transformer]

@@socalledabdullah76 I see. What an awful way to die. Felt like crying listening to their back stories.

[@jamah3842]

Is this really manslaugter or murder?

[@aisecream3458]

I guess both

[@josephstalin7389]

None. in all matters

[@HelenaMikas]

No great wonderful life in UK , Believe me I was born in England but left to teach in Germany .There is no pot of gold in UK She had the greatest wealth a loving family .

[@SouthSide1312.]

😢

[@alissa3892]

This is so hard to grasp what these people went through. What’s worse is that human trafficking and migration smugglers will never end. Right now people are currently doing this and suffering the consequences even being public knowledge that this happens all the time. The people inside were going to be dangerous once released, I mean, they had to do all sorts of illegal activity and pay that kind of money, they were capable of anything from that point on. The driver was so scared to open that door because they could have jumped him, since they had to survive from a hellish experience without a single person caring for their lives, caged in inhumane conditions. I think that’s why both drivers where so hesitant to open the door. I wonder if they could have survived had they turned on the cold from the freezer and why they never turned it on, was it to save money? That would be beyond cruel. On the other hand, the victims didn’t even pay for it, most of them selfishly put their whole poor family at debt for this trip.

[@enkheenatsag513]

Most of Vietnamese ladies in USA married to Vietnamese men who are older over 20 , 25 30 years older .These older men brought for work at nail salon for him.First 2 or 3 years keep them in house to made them his kids .Other ways these girls run off him.At least hook them up with 2 kids .Only few of them who got family are can dump him but still have work and give everything for his kids

[@DungarooTV]

Although this is still very tragic. These people knew the risks and consequences yet they still wanted to escape. This says a lot about how people feel about lifestyles in Vietnam.

[@aminecherfa3841]

I dnt get the family members...willing to pay £16k to cover that suicidal journey but how much are u expecting the individual to earn once in the U.K? Minimum wage or less. Ppl need to conduct their own research properly.

[@Mel87y]

That is what makes no sense

[@laughter95]

Glad to see the comment section compassionate. If this was on Fox News and they were trying to smuggle into the US, I'm sure I'd see a different reaction.

[@laughter95]

@@harrylincoln596 I didn't say to support illegal immigration and/or human trafficking.

[@dtmorris6157]

@@harrylincoln596 stop putting your twisted words to redefined others. There are lots of westerners also living in Vietnam. Most are are corpo, education and some in bars. Nobody says they are taking advantage of Vietnam? This is all over the world. Lets not get to the british gangs/ biker gangs that taking "advantage" of Thailand.

[@a6m5zero47]

She was already in debt and added another debt to go to uk illegally.

[@vincenttan6303]

4:22... 30000 GBP... that's the price my family paid for me to complete my masters degree in UK...

[@johanna5688]

The grass is not always greener on the other side. Think before you make any life-changing decision.

[@alangaming2003]

This hit me so hard my family are Vietnamese and I though they were in the trailer trying to visit us

[@kadijasaidi748]

They drove them like marchandise and never tried to open the truck to know

[@Ryzeczek]

they died on the boat, it's not Robinson's fault, it's R.Hughes's fault and Eamonn Harrison's fault, the one who brought them to the port before handing over the semi-trailer should have opened the semi-trailer's door, but he didn't do that, when Robinson took the semi-trailer, he received new instructions "give them air but don't let them go" anyway, it's terrible, I'm sorry for the people who died there, as well as the people who were, you could say, innocent like Maurice Robinson

[@cedenullis5906]

Ladies, next time you have your nails done, if the technician is an oriental female, consider asking some questions........

[@tl9585]

I'm not saying all, but some maybe in this case. My mom is a nail technician and so is my other aunts. They choose this profession and it's not like anyone force them to. However, you are right to be concern.

[@emem7494]

Ask what

[@Mel87y]

The boss won’t let you!

[@markm3869]

What happened to UNITED NATIONS Declaration of Human Rights that recognises the right of each citizen on earth to chose and move to where they want to live. Will we the humanity ever find the way to make it possible for each human being to live dignified life and will we ever stop horrible criminals from exploiting people and putting innocent lives to so much misery, so much suffering.

[@illangakoonmudiyanselageba7343]

Controlling mechanism and limitations

[@LucyAmberon]

Obviously a refrigeration truck is going to be air tight so what the F F F was the driver thinking would happen ??.?.??this is the most tragic sad thing it’s so horrible I just feel that when stuff like this happens it reminds me that God is sleeping on the job. It’s just a fact. God doesn’t exist, if he did then some turn of fate, some slither of hope would prevent these things from happening. But it seems that there are some places he just doesn’t go to. It makes me want to weep

[@boxingmonthly]

you're a FOOL

[@vallee3140]

@@boxingmonthly I dont believe in god either

[@JimiBegbaaji]

The trip's been made multiple times. But on this occasion, the weather was working against them.

[@donedealuser3726]

I don't get it, they could get 30,000 pounds. Ie 300 months salary. As the average is 100 pounds a month. So in our money it would be 300 months average salary here, like nearly half a million pound. How would they of made that back!

[@phuctrinh2589]

Sky news got it wrong. 100 pounds is too little to live anywhere in Vietnam. They might mistake it for GDP/Capita in that province

[@yellowmonkeyvirus5756]

fan thai twai mai is her name

[@illangakoonmenike8194]

Money or your life

[@fadyanassor6934]

Some Parents want to depend on their children, they dont care if you have to die, but they see a child as a means of wealth.

[@aisecream3458]

I disagree with you ,this parents paid lots of fortune to give their kids a better future in life

[@mrjustice2136]

I agreed with you My wife’s family just keep asking her to send them money even their brothers sisters…. Back then we didn’t have any money and her mom asked her to get a loan to buy her a house…they even make up some fake stories to get money like sick, injuries… They think we living in the United States and we make good money but they don’t even know how hard our life over here….

[@Doggfan]

Cmon we all know this was a small part of the organ trade

[@midnight26ful]

Is sad but they all made a choice and they took life for granted now their dead.

[@mariusvicol8711]

Why in Zeerbruge with 26 degrees inside and knowing that temperature is rising they didn t make noise or whatever to get out? They was desorientated but evean like that... Rip

[@grenadewarrior9334]

Why pay all that money to get smuggled in why not just come in to a Country legally

[@dtmorris6157]

This is the type of question a first world person would be asking. lol

[@grahamjordan1040]

@@dtmorris6157 like you then

[@MsCVandal]

Essex police were tipped off 2 weeks before the deaths, sad they didn't do much about it

[@JimiBegbaaji]

Do you have a source for this?

[@johnlv7060]

Communist is love communist is life.

[@tammykraemer5314]

Her name is trà me...thats how you spell her name. Please do the research before making a story on her journey without saying her name correctly . Imagine her families are watching this document, I can guarantee they won't be happy aboyt it because its not their daughter name 😏😏

[@greenpenguin7877]

Parents were to blame for paying the smugglers in the first place.

[@Wastingtimeee1]

Are u dumb. Do you think they paid for their child’s death

[@lifesagamesobeawinner]

Why are the world's poor my problem ? Why should my hard earned cash be spent on this instead of helping our own homeless or paying to keep the NHS off its knees ? 7 million a day to keep this lot in 4* luxury then when they get asylum the first place they go is back home for a holiday in the so called EVIL place they escaped from.🤬

[@grahamjordan1040]

Shouldn’t have tried getting in my country illegally

[@moodyXcurly]

Very sad

[@mohsinahmed7122]

it's tragic