A 12-year-old boy from West Yorkshire has died after a tragic accident in a swimming pool in Vietnam.
Young Otis Walder-Robb, from Holmfirth, died on Friday 7 July, with tributes pouring in.
It’s been reported that other children pulled him from the pool and attempts to revive him were made - but Otis died a short while later in hospital.
He had been in Vietnam volunteering at a summer camp teaching children, along with his father Stephen Walder and stepmother Liz Robb, plus his younger sister, Betty.
Tragically, Otis’s biological mother Cathy died from breast cancer at the age of just 33. Stephen’s biological son Reuben also died at just 10 years old, and now he has lost his youngest son in Otis too.
A Crowdfunder has now been set up to pay for Otis’s body to be returned to Thailand, where he lived, and to cover his funeral costs.
Otis Walder Robb, a boy from Yorkshire who died in Vietnam. Credit: Go Fund Me
Tributes have been paid as donations flood in, with £14,000 raised at the time of writing.
One person wrote: “Heartbroken - so incredibly tragic to have lost such a vibrant young man. No words can come close to what hardship you have all gone through. You're so much in our thoughts and here when and if you want us. So immensely sad. All our love to all of you.”
Another donor wrote: “With all our love and support and in rememberance of a truly unique soul.”
The donation page states: “Otis Walder-Robb was 12 years old when he took his last breath at 7.57pm on 7-7-2023. We regret to share that his passing was of sudden consequence from a tragic accident.
“There is grief and deep sorrow amidst the family's hearts, & a growing community is in mourning.
“We wish to use all funding towards the funeral expenses and memorial of Otis, and to cover all travel & health care costs in returning him, his sister Betty, and his parents Steven & Liz, to home soil, so the family and their community can celebrate & hold ceremony for his life.”
The UK Aids Memorial Quilt is set to go on display across Wakefield this summer.
The quilt - consisting of 42 quilts and 23 individual panels, representing over 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS - will go on display at WX Wakefield from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 June 2026.
All 42 quilts will be on display, with WX working in partnership with the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Conservation Partnership.
Across the same weekend, selected individual panels will be displayed at different venues across the city including The Hepworth Wakefield, The Art House Wakefield, Theatre Royal Wakefield, Pontefract Castle and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Part of the world’s largest community art project, this is a huge opportunity for the city of Wakefield. The project started in the USA back in 1985 by activist Cleve Jones, commemorating friends, family and loved ones lost to AIDS.
Individual panels were then stitched together to create larger quilts, which were shown outdoors as a form of protest to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Today, the quilt stands as a crucial reminder of those who were lost and of the continuing affect that HIV and AIDS has on the people of today.
At WX Wakefield, viewing the quilt is completely free and on Friday 5 June there will be a special late night opening up until 10:30pm to view the exhibition.
And on Saturday 6 June at 2:30pm, there will be a very special and poignant reading of the names of those commemorated on the quilt.
Featured image - UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, installation view at Tate Modern, June 2025. Photo: AM Hanson
News
Leeds’ first frozen yoghurt bar is opening in Headingley this weekend
Clementine Hall
The frozen yoghurt craze is on its way to Leeds as Kefiyo is set to open in Headingley in just a few days.
It's a phenomenon that has caught the attention of the TikTok and Instagram girlies as of late, with frozen yoghurt bars popping up in Manchester and going viral online.
The ice cold sweet treat is supposedly 'healthy' and with a slogan of 'eat Clean. feel Light. live Better.' - this new spot in Leeds seems to be going down that route too.
Kefiyo will be opening in the old Sixes site on Ash Road in Headingley, and they've just announced that they'll be soft launching this Sunday 19 April 2026.
The space is already sporting a super cute pastel green and pink exterior, and it's exactly matching the aesthetic that you'd expect with froyo.
Kefiyo will offer a range of frozen yoghurt flavours with a whole bunch of toppings for you to customise to your tastebuds, as well as fresh acai bowls.
Situated slap bang in the centre of Headingley, we've got a feeling it'll be very busy with students on their way to their morning lecture or at night for those looking for a sweet treat that doesn't feel too naughty.
We'll keep you updated on more Kefiyo updates as and when we find out.
But in the meantime, you can keep an eye on their socials here. We'll see you soon for a scoop Leeds.
Daisy Jackson -
13th July 2023 
