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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Rachel Hagan

Mum tormented by fake Vietnam coroner who sent pics of son's body after motorcycle crash

A bereaved mum says she is still fighting for justice and answers over her son's motorcycle death in Vietnam earlier this year.

Debby Clayton spoke out after the inquest into 24-year-old Denver Barfield's death concluded on Tuesday, in which a court heard that the young tourist died as a result of pelvic injuries.

The inquest heard that the bike left the road and collided with the pavement area beside Hung Vuong Street, in Hoi An City, however ever, the cause of the crash in May has still not been determined.

Ms Clayton said the family accept the outcome but they will "not stop fighting until someone takes responsibility" for the way her son's body was treated after his death.

Denver was just 24 (BPM MEDIA)

After Denver died his family were subjected to a scam from someone who claimed to be the coroner in Vietnam, demanding over £10,000 to send her son's body home.

She said they sent graphic images of her son, which the coroner referred to as "despicable".

His body took over nine days to be repatriated and she felt she had no support from the government whatsoever.

"We haven’t even had welfare checks. Nothing. The fight we have had over the past 10 days has been unbearable,” she said to the Leicester Mercury around the time of the tragedy.

She continued: "It's just a shame the authorities haven't done their part and left us to get on with it without any help whatsoever. It's an absolute disgrace and I am so angry at them.”

Hoi An, Vietnam (Getty Images)

Denver was travelling on the Yamaha Nouvo motorcycle with passenger Beth Thompson, a former University of Leicester student when they crashed and died as a result of their injuries.

She said the family is seeking recognition for how they claimed to have been treated and "failed as a family by those who are meant to help us."

Speaking highly of her son, she said: "Denver was the most incredible young man who had his whole life ahead of him.

"He was loyal funny caring loving and kind to every single person that he met and lit up the room wherever he went."

Historic city of Hoi An (Getty Images)

Ivan Cartwright told Leicester Coroner's Court: "On the balance of probabilities, I am able to find that for reasons that will never be precise, the motorcycle left the road so that the rider and pillion passenger were thrown off it, and each sustained injuries that were serious, and sadly fatal."

The coroner said there was "nothing to suggest that Denver was excessively intoxicated through alcohol or any other substance".

A translated police report from Vietnam suggested that the motorbike hit a kerb and then collided with a metal lamp post or pole.

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