Crash victim was on final trip before settling down

Apr 15 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THE Northwich trip leader who died in a coach crash in Ecuador was taking part in her final expedition before settling down, her family has said.

Sarah Howard had earned a place on an NHS management training scheme which she was due to start in September.

Her parents Peter and Pam Howard said their daughter had a “passion” for travelling and that her loss was “indescribable”.

The 26-year-old was working on a freelance basis for the organisers of the trans-Andean trip, gap-year travel specialist VentureCo.

After graduating in 2003, the ex-pupil of Grange High School, Hartford, Northwich, worked as a project leader in Peru and Ecuador for gap-year companies Madventurer and Quest Overseas.

From 2004 to 2006, she was employed by Trekforce Expeditions, in Belize, in various roles including assistant expedition leader.

She moved back home to Cheshire in January this year after a spell working in London for an expedition company which provided tailor-made trips for schools.

Her parents said: “The job with VentureCo to Ecuador, Peru and Chile was due to be her last trip before starting work in September.

“Sarah was a beautiful, bubbly, intelligent, kind and caring person with a tremendous love of life.

“Travelling was her passion. As well as Central and South America, she had been to Japan, South Africa, China, New York, Mauritius, Jamaica and many parts of Europe. She had a large circle of friends from school, university and work abroad. Ourselves and her brother, Daniel, are devastated. Our loss is indescribable.”

Four teenagers also died when the bus they were travelling in was hit by a lorry in the South American republic on Saturday.

A further four British nationals remain in hospital following the accident, which happened at about 7pm local time as the group neared the end of a trans-Andean journey to a fishing village where they were set to do volunteer work.

They were due to build sanitation and other facilities for a creche as part of a trip organised by gap-year travel specialist VentureCo.

Yesterday, the other four victims were named as gap-year students Emily Sadler, 19, from Northwood, Hertfordshire; Rebecca Logie, 19, from Chorley, Lancashire; Indira Swann, 18, of Maidenhead, Berkshire, and Elizabeth Pincock, 19, a former pupil of Taunton School, in Somerset.

Friends and relatives have paid tribute to the five British women.

Miss Swann’s parents, Gregory and Louise Swann, described their daughter as an independent and caring young woman.

Mr Swann said: “There are just so many wonderful stories we could tell about Indira – that she was so generous, caring. She was a joy to be around.

“We have no regrets about her going other than the final outcome.”

Mr Swann added: “Travel broadens knowledge, understanding. I think it is one of the best educations you can have. I would say to any student with the means to travel, do so.”