Teenage charity worker dies in India trek tragedy
TRIBUTES TO ‘IMPRESSIVE’ VOLUNTEER Niamh, 19, suffered mystery illness
A TEENAGE charity worker from Scotland has died after falling ill during a trek in India.
Niamh Campbell, 19, from Clackmannanshire, had gone to Bangalore in September to teach English, maths and science at a primary school.
She was a volunteer with Isle of Coll charity Project Trust, who confirmed she had died while trekking in the north of India.
Trust boss Ingrid Emerson said: “Niamh was a lovely girl and an impressive and commi tt ed teacher, always hard-working and considerate of others.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with her family and her fellow volunteers.”
Niamh was travelling in Himachal Pradesh on Monday in a group led by an experienced guide.
She fell ill and was taken by ambulance to hospital in Manali but later passed away. Tests are being done to find out her cause of death.
Niamh had been posting regular blogs in which she admitted to feeling ill, with the last sent on Sunday.
She wrote: “We arrived in Udaipur early in morning after the stressful day we had before. Our hotel was amazing. It was a shame I was still only eating dry toast because the food looked amazing.
“When we finally got settled, all I wanted to do was sleep because I still wasn’t well.”
She added: “The next day ...we went to see the sunset from on top of a hill. It was a long walk up and after not eating for about four days, it was rather tricky.
“It’s amazing how big a role food plays in your life. But I was also more amazed at how long you can go without food and be fine.”
Project Trust’s overseas director has left the UK for India to help out.