‘We Will Not Give Up Looking For Her’ – BBC Journalist Feared Dead After SE Asia Accident

A BBC journalist is feared to have drowned following an accident during a dream trip to South East Asia. Johanna Powell, who works as a picture editor for the broadcaster, was on a cruise trip with several friends on Saturday when the boat in which she was travelling hit a rock and quickly sank in the Mekong River in Laos.

According to The Daily Mail, the crew of the boat, tour guide and other passengers all swam to safety but Ms Powell, who is from Cardiff, "disappeared in the strong current" and a search is now underway along a 20km of the river.

"We will not give up looking for her. Ms Powell was travelling with three women friends who have all been accounted for. The boat which has a steel bottom but is otherwise made of wood hit a rock in the rapids and sank in a minute. It was that fast," said the co-owner of the company who owned the boat.

"Everyone on board went into the water but there were rocks for people to cling to. They were all able to get to the river bank except for Ms Powell."

The 37-year-old had been on a three-week holiday to SE Asia when the tragic accident took place and was described this week as "lovely, outgoing and always smiling", adding that she had "been looking forward to the trip for a long time".

Photos via Athena Pictures/Daily Mail